2013

Political Notebook
The national and international situation has undergone a sea change in the last half-a-century when Nikhil Chakravartty and his small but committed group of colleagues brought out Mainstream. Jawaharlal Nehru was alive and the non-aligned movement under the leadership of Nehru, Nasser and Tito sought to unify the underdeveloped and developing countries that were called the Third World. They followed the policy of non-alignment which meant that the Third World countries (…)

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Nikhil Chakravartty (November 3, 2013) we present here his bio-sketch.
Born on November 3, 1913 in Silchar (now in Assam) Nikhil Chakravartty had his school education at Hindu School, Calcutta (1925-29), and college education in Presidency College, Calcutta (1929-35). He graduated with History Honours in 1933 and stood First Class in MA (History) in 1935. Thereafter he went to Oxford where he studied in Merton College (1936-39) and in Oxford (…)

Dada Chakravartty belonged to a generation which valued both personal qualities and intellectual calibre. His times were also turbulent and tested the journalist’s moral fibre and intellectual integrity. Only those like him, who had firm convictions and clear insight and vision, could weather the storms. When he launched the Mainstream single-handedly, all his qualities were taxed beyond measure. Dauntlessly he stood like a rock never wavering for a moment. His upright, no-nonsense, gushing (…)

Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was to have released the book India-Pakistan: Themes Beyond Borders—Selections from Nikhil Chakravartty’s Writings (published by Konark Publishers Pvt. Ltd.) at the meeting held in New Delhi on November 3, 2003 to mark N.C.’s ninetieth birth anniversary, but could not do so as he was indisposed. So he sent the following letter to the Mainstream editor and Secretary of the Nikhil Chakravartty Memorial Foundation, which was read out at the meeting.
My (…)

The first time when I was introduced to Nikhil Chakravartty he was described as a Communist. This, however, turned out to be incorrect. No doubt, he was a Leftist but also a strong exponent of liberty and individual’s right which the communist ideology tends to minimise in the larger interest.
I found Nikhil fighting against the regime during the Emergency, although the Communist Party of India (CPI) was an ardent of supporter of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, who had imposed (…)

The birth anniversary of Nikhil Chakravartty provides another occasion to his numerous friends and admirers to recall their association with him and pay homage to his memory. It is 15 years since this great Indian, great human being and a pre-eminent media personality left us. Time passes and memories fade. But in the case of Nikhilda, 15 years have really made no difference to his friends; his memory is still green for them.
Nikhilda was born on November 3, 1913. The centenary is defined (…)

Nikhilda observed, watched, recognised, listened to what surrounded him and was, at the same time, a part of his own life, and then wrote. In his journalistic writing he constantly arranged what he had perceived, trying to find a sense in the historic events he witnessed in his own country and the rest of the world. His presence for us, who followed his generation of journalists, referred to nothing else except what an intelligent and sensitive mind had felt, seen and reported without caring (…)

I cannot believe that we are celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Uncle Nikhil. I know that Uncle Nikhil is remembered as a journalist with formidable power of analysis and a man of cast-iron integrity. But all I can think of is the smile, a shy smile, making the dimples on both cheeks deepen and the eyes lighted up on seeing a box of chocolates.
He loved chocolates and every time we got chocolates we would always save them for Uncle Nikhil just to see his face light up. And he would (…)

by Bishwajit Sen
Late Nikhil Chakravartty thought of “Plurality” when the concept itself was largely unknown. True, the Twentinth Congress of the CPSU did the essential and seminal job of leaving Indian Communists doubtful of certain “Eternal Truths”, but that was that and nothing else. Stalin was blamed for everything but the fact that the malaise was deeper was neither elaborated nor understood. Here and there in Europe, plurality was practised as a matter of mere necessity (like in (…)

From N.C.’s Writings
After N.C.’s demise on June 27, 1998 three pieces were recovered from his notes as evidence that he had started writing his autobiography. Since November 3 this year happens to be his birth centenary, we are carrying the following piece (written on March 5, 1990) on his birth and childhood.
What’s the earliest memory I have about myself? I have tried to look back to catch a glimpse of what could possibly be the earliest scene I can remember about my life.
I don’t (…)