in Bengal Vinay Krishin Gidwani An idea acquires political potency when it is displaced from a category to a norm; in other words, when, in addition to describing the object it claims to be designating it also takes on an ascriptive and/or moral quality that then guides conduct. 'Waste' is one such idea with an ascriptive dimension, and is therefore politically power- ful The Permanent Settlement in Bengal was deeply concerned with the issue of 'waste'.