Articles by Sumanta Banerjee

Colonial Modernization and Gandhi by Saila Kumar Ghosh

Barack Obama's path to the White House is reminiscent of the tensions and ultimate happy resolution in the 1960s film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. But Obama's election can at best be an occasion for a few cosmetic changes in US foreign and domestic policies. It does not imply a radical departure from the fundamental economic and political motivations that govern US behaviour.

The "vibrant" Indian media is under siege on all sides. Powerful politicians use mobs to browbeat independent outlets; the state manipulates the media to plant information through journalists innocent of the basic norms of reporting and media owners prioritise their commercial interests over everything else. A number of examples in recent months from around the country highlight the ugly trends.

The report, Development Challenges in Extremist Affected Areas, authored by an expert group set up by the Planning Commission, looks at the Naxalite/Maoist movement in a way that is different from the prevalent official attitude and draws attention to many of the positive effects of the movement. The report rejects the official "security-centric" approach in dealing with the movement and instead suggests an "ameliorative approach with emphasis on a negotiated solution".

It is nice to hear that the EPW has got its own home. Yet, one part of me will always remain bound to Hitkari House. I have fond memories of when I first walked down one afternoon, many years ago, to what was then known as Frere Road, climbed up the rickety staircase, and was ushered into a cubicle...