Author: Atanu Dey

Economist.

Kaushik Basu: “Words Don’t Feed the Poor”

Among economists who can explain economics to anyone even remotely interested in the subject, Prof Kaushik Basu is in a league of his own. Many years ago as a graduate student at Berkeley, I had had the privilege of hosting him for dinner together with Profs deJanvry and Sadoulet. I occasionally re-read his columns to learn how to write. Here I present an extended excerpt from a 1997 India Today column of his. {Click on image for source.} Continue reading “Kaushik Basu: “Words Don’t Feed the Poor””

In Delhi Next Week Mon-Tue

I will be in Delhi next week Monday and Tuesday (8th & 9th of March.) If anyone wants to meet up, it would be excellent. Please email me atanudey at gmail. (This is a sticky post and will be unstuck in a few days.)

The Ideas of the Peoples

The power of ideas has been a constant underlying theme of this blog. All transformations, good and bad alike, are fueled by adoption of ideas by people. Allow me to quote from a book that I am currently reading. Continue reading “The Ideas of the Peoples”

The Land of Retards and Hypocrites

I find two items interesting today. One is an online petition titled “Demand for withdrawal of a flawed book on Hindu History published by PENGUIN” is making the rounds. Addressed to the presidents of the Penguin Group and Penguin India Pvt Ltd, it says, “The Hindus: An Alternative History” by Wendy Doniger “is rife with numerous errors in its historical facts and Sanskrit translations. These errors and misrepresentations are bound and perhaps intended to mislead students of Indian and Hindu history.” The other item is the story about M F Husain giving up his Indian citizenship and becoming a citizen of Qatar. Continue reading “The Land of Retards and Hypocrites”

Going back to the basics

It is time to get back to the basics. It is time for this blog to get back to what its primary concern is: to discuss matters that relate to India’s development. It is entertaining and diverting to once in a while engage with jholawalas like rajkamal and expose their hollow Islamic ideology but eventually we have to focus on the principal issues. Continue reading “Going back to the basics”

Temporary Post: Calling Oldtimer

This is a temporary post. I will delete it as soon as it serves the purpose. Dear Mr Oldtimer: Please reply to the comment by Rajkamal on the post Open Thread: Comment Policy. Mr Rajkamal charges that I am adding comments under the pseudonym “Oldtimer”. Please do show that you are a real person. Thank you.

The Wedge between Mandi and Retail Prices of Vegetables

A item in the Times of India reports on “Retail loot: Mandi prices are a fraction of retail prices. What explains the wedge in prices? Continue reading “The Wedge between Mandi and Retail Prices of Vegetables”