Mainstream Weekly

Most recent articles

• Essence of the Change that Mamata has Ensured

  20 August 2011, by Amitava Mukherjee

  LETTER FROM KOLKATA
  There are three important political milestones for the Bengalis in the post-colonial period. The first one certainly started with the independence of the country. Bengal was divided but it was certainly saved from the catastrophe which Sarat Bose’s plan of a united independent Bengal might have brought about. The second was the coming into power of the United Front in 1967. In every respect it marked the beginning of the downslide of Bengali life. This dark age (…)

• Rethink Slum Housing Scheme

  20 August 2011, by Bharat Dogra

  COMMUNICATION
  According to the details of the first phase of the scheme for allotting flats to Delhi’s slum dwellers, only 42 per cent of the 15,713 slum households were found to be eligible. What happens to the remaining 58 per cent who will lose their slum dwellings? There is a plan to provide them temporary rental accommodation for six months only after which they have to be on their own.
  Any scheme for the poor has to be based on the basic principle that the overwhelming majority (…)

• Issues that can Unite People—Ideas for the Mamata Banerjee Government

  20 August 2011, by Bharat Dogra

  When a charismatic leader unites people for a long awaited and widely celebrated election victory, conducive conditions are created for utilising the high levels of motivation for several constructive tasks. This moment should not be lost. It will not last forever. While the motivations of people are still high, some ideas and programmes with the potential to benefit greatly a very large number of people should be launched on a priority basis. These programmes should also have a strong (…)

• A Few Pointers for the Mamata Banerjee Government

  20 August 2011, by Sailendra Nath Ghosh

  Ms Mamata Banerjee came to power in West Bengal on the crest of a wave of popularity unprecedented in the annals of any State of India. The people of West Bengal have high expectations from her. The people of other States, too, look up to her for setting an example of corruption-free governance for a true and long-lasting upliftment of the people at the grassroots level. It is, therefore, necessary for every well-wisher to keep a watchful eye on her government’s moves—to support her (…)

• Russia Reaches Out to Iran

  20 August 2011, by M K Bhadrakumar

  A recurring feature of the Russian-Iranian relationship is that it mostly languishes on the horizon but can be trusted to move to the centre-stage whenever there is a criticality in the Middle East situation. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made a point recently in an interview with the Russian media when he described Iran as the “most significant neighbour” of Russia, which stands in the way of the Western strategy to encircle Russia.
  The message was unmistakable: “You need us (…)

• Correcting Popular Misconceptions of Marx

  20 August 2011, by Devdatt P. Dubhashi

  BOOK REVIEW
  Why Marx was Right by Terry Eagleton; Yale University Press; 2011.
  The financial crisis and the Great Recession seemed to present, for many of us, a good opportunity to reconsider the current economic, political and social system and alternatives to it. However, mention the “M” word, and it’s a non-starter. No matter how apolitical a person otherwise is, they seem to have a firm opinion on Marx—he’s authoritarian, he advocates violence.... he’s passe. Professional economists (…)

• Chaturanan Mishra: A Constructive Communist

  20 August 2011, by Anil Rajimwale

  It may sound strange that there are, by implication, ‘non-constructive’ Communists, but it is a fact there have not been many constructive Communists. In fact, the very concept of a ‘Communist’ has been distorted by a long period of practice of Stalinism and Maoism, emphasising destruction. Communist and Communism have been reduced to ‘destructive’ actitvities only: destroy this and that, ‘overthrow’ capitalism, ‘smash’ imperialism, and this, that and the other, and then only you will begin (…)

• Identity Crisis of the Bengalis of Bihar

  20 August 2011

  by BISHWAJIT SEN
  It is surprising that the community which was the prime mover behind setting up of modern educational institutions in Patna, is today gripped by a deep identity crisis. R.M.R. Seminary at Khazanchi Road, was established by the great social reformer Shivnath Shastri, who belonged to the Brahmo Samaj. “Aghore Prakash Shishu Sadan” bears the memories of late Dr B.C. Roy’s (the second Chief Minister of West Bengal) parents who brought enlightenment to Bihar, by propa-gating (…)

• No End to Political Drama

  10 August 2011, by SC

  While there has indeed been a temporary relief in the US debt crisis with President Obama and Congressional leaders of both parties—the Republicans and Democrats—disclosing late on July 31 that they had agreed to cut trillions of dollars in federal spending over the next decade and thus pave the way for enhancing the government’s borrowing limit, in India there seems to be no end to the political drama in both the Capital or the States.
  At the moment all eyes are riveted to Bengaluru as (…)

• Amar Sonar Bangla

  10 August 2011

  [(On August 8 this year falls the 22nd day of Sravana. On that day in the Bengali year 1348, Rabindranath Tagore had breathed his last a few minutes past noon. That year, 1941 AD, the 22nd day of Sravana fell on August 7. Every year it is on the 22nd day of Sravana (according to the Bengali calendar) that Tagore’s death anniversary is observed. This time it is the seventieth anniversary of the poet’s death that we will observe early next week. On this occasion we are remembering him and (…)