Tag Archives: Contemporary India

The Brown Sahibs and Modern Zamindars

Terrorism and Security – the twin brothers – have had interesting consequences. One of that is seen with Indian VIPs – who make huge noises when they get ‘patted’ or ‘searched’ by security establishment at US airports. Even in this … Continue reading

Effects of History: Tale of Two Neighbours

History is very powerful – not just conceptually – but emotionally, logically and politically. It hangs on the mind and shapes the mindset. We may even be getting influenced by it – even without realizing its power to shape us. … Continue reading

Caste outside Hinduism

India is a land of complex mixing of traditions and cultures. Through its ever continuous evolution, it has developed local flavours of religions. It has adopted practices, assimilated traditions, and even transformed the religious practices that have emerged in foreign … Continue reading

India and English Language

Many years ago, a well known editor and columnist had written that since he writes in english, speaks most of the time in english, most of his reading is english, and he even consequently thinks in english, therefore his mother … Continue reading

The Concept of Swaraj

This essay was presented at the Essay Competition-cum-Young Scholars Seminar on Concept of Swaraj, held under auspeicies of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), at Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya (University), Jabalpur, Feb 25-28, 1997. Concept of Swaraj © Anup Mukherjee Swaraje … Continue reading

Finance and Profits

For some years now, I had wanted to read this book Finance and Profits by N.J. Yasaswy, but could mange only some extracts. By this time, this edition of the book that I have, is nearly 15 years old. So, … Continue reading

Market Practices

This might sound a simple and small thing, but is quite symptomatic on how a free market mechanism punishes the bad trader, and at the same time how a a cartelised market is a bad place to shop. A week … Continue reading

Independence Day and Legacy of Mangal Pandey

India celebrated its 59th independence day today (58 years of independence). Some cynic would say, that the republic is already old and it should prepare for its retirement (as a republic, India is 55 something). More optimists would say that … Continue reading

Initiation for the Probasi

“You are a Bihari, huh”? No! I protest, I am Mukherjee. “You are a Mukherjee!” – the man said with questioning disbelief and astonishment. “So where is your home?”. I say, I live at Asansol. “No-no”, he again protests – … Continue reading

Asansol Film Festival and Amu

The film festival at Asansol is held around this time of the year. This comprises a handful of good films – English, Hindi, Bengali – that are shown over a week at the Rabindra Bhavan. This time we decided that … Continue reading