ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

Articles by Amitabh MukhopadhyaySubscribe to Amitabh Mukhopadhyay

The Casting Vote

You choose a Member indeed; but after you have chosen him, he is not a member of Bristol; he is a Member of Parliament.

– Edmund Burke

Nationalism and History

Circumstances need not necessarily be responsible for making nationalism a boon or a curse. Amartya Sen in his article (February 16) fails to recognise the significant variations in the meaning of nationalism in different times. Mahatma Gandhi's unique forging of Indian nationalism and his genius in coupling it to non-violence escapes Sen's attention.

Accountability and Communicative Action

The campaign for democratic decentralisation in Kerala was no doubt sagacious, participative and vigorously implemented. However, there was no audit certification to vouch for expenditure incurred or to counter allegations of "decentralised corruption". Social audit as communicative action - drawing on the experience of the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan in the conduct of jan sunwais (public hearings) in Rajasthan - can help foreground the pretext of accountability and unleash the energies of people to establish accountability in local bodies.

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