Modernity

Ideas, Thoughts & Memories: Bengali Literary Essays (A Selection in Translation) edited by Kaplana Bardhan, Kolkata: Anustup, 2021; pp 392, `600.

Talking of Power: Early Writings of Bengali Women edited by Malini Bhattacharya and Abhijit Sen, New Delhi, California, London and Singapore: Sage Publications, 2021; pp xv + 180, `750.

Technology strategies routinely overlook the marginalised, who demonstrate complicated, non-linear, and unpredictable technological experiences in addition to intangible technological inequalities. Only if we improve our political and sociological understanding of technology can we steer it to work towards genuine modernity and well-being.

Smaller Citizens: Writings on the Making of Indian Citizens by Krishna Kumar, Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan, 2021; pp xvii  +  149, `395.

Development, Distribution, and Markets edited by Kaushik Basu, Maitreesh Ghatak, Kenneth Kletzer, Sudipto Mundle and Eric Veerhoogen, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2021; pp vii + 328, `1,495.

Unresolved agrarian question, slow pace of industrial development and distorted economic growth of the service sector, have all led to the nature of economic development that is not symmetrical or equally poised with political democracy and rights. As long as capitalism in India remains backward to a large extent, in agriculture and industry, and as long as the distorted development continues, we will be stuck with the impasse of backward-looking nationalism and authoritarian populism. Current impasse is a product of achieving political modernity and a superstructure without its accompanying economic basis.