We have seen increasing opposition to forced eviction of peasants from their lands in the name of industrialization, urbanisation and SEZs – be it Kalinga Nagar, Raigad, Nandigram or Singur. This issue’s cover story, written by Kannan Kasturi, traces the evolution of this phenomenon of eviction and land acquisition by the state under various pretexts starting with colonial India.
S Raghavan has gone a step further and traced the traumatic changes that British brought into land relations and ownership. Madhavi Thampi has reminded us of a defining moment of 20th century viz., the October Revolution and its significance today. In this issue, instead of a book review, we have carried the summary of an important book authored by C K Raju on Indian calculus and the cultural foundations of mathematics. Peepul ke Neeche features a conversation with Mahmood Farooqui, a distinguished researcher into 1857. He has given us a vivid micro-picture of what happened in Delhi during the Great Ghadar.
As a document, we have carried excerpts from the Minute by Macaulay on educating Indians, which gives a glimpse of the colonial administration, which assiduously turned most of us into “Macaulay’s Children”.
As usual, many people have contributed news items for Resonances to give us a whiff of happenings around the country.
Many readers including prominent creative writers have complimented us for carrying short stories and not just serious essays. However, we need more contributors to this section.
We welcome Prof S. Settar of National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, Prof Sreedhara from Bengaluru, Dr Shamshersingh Bisht from Almora, Panju Ganguli from Mumbai, Dr Zahid Hasan Mahmood and Mehboob Rehman from Dhaka University, Bangladesh on joining this Ghadari caravan as editorial advisors.
Last but not the least is the very important point of financial support for this venture.
In these times when the printed media has become the handmaiden of advertisers and their moneyed patrons, it is an uphill task for magazines such as this to find their space. Discerning and truth seeking readers like you have become crucial to the survival of value-based journalism of any kind.
This year has been very exciting for all of us involved in this adventure in journalism and here is wishing on behalf of the entire Ghadar Jari Hai team a healthy and productive 2008.