Atanu Dey : Life is a Random Draw

1947
Bengal….5,000 to 10,000 dead …CONGRESS RULE.

1967
Ranchi….200 DEAD……….CONGRESS RULE.

1969
Ahmedabad…512 DEAD……..CONGRESS RULE.

1970
Bhiwandi….80 DEAD………….CONGRESS RULE.

1979
Jamshedpur..125 DEAD……CPIM RULE (COMMUNIST PARTY)

1980
Moradabad…2,000 DEAD…CONGRESS RULE.

1983
Nellie Assam…..5,000 DEAD…CONGRESS RULE.

1984
anti-Sikh Delhi…2,733 DEAD…CONGRESS RULE

1984
Bhiwandi….146 DEAD….CONGRESS RULE

1985
Gujarat…..300 DEAD..CONGRESS RULE

1986
Ahmedabad……59 DEAD…..CONGRESS RULE

1987
Meerut….81 DEAD…CONGRESS RULE

1989
Bhagalpur……1,070 DEAD……CONGRESS RULE

1990
Hyderabad……300 PLUS DEAD….CONGRESS RULE

1992
Mumbai….900 TO 2000 DEAD….CONGRESS RULE

1992
Aligarh….176 DEAD…..CONGRESS RULE

External shocks — the type that bring about radical change in large, complex systems — is the focus of my recent piece on Niti Central. When things are at their worst, what’s needed is a push to put matters on a different trajectory. I believe that the next general elections has the potential to deliver that for India.

Here’s the text of my piece, for the record. I should also add that in the last paragraph of the piece, I made up an “old Indian adage” just to make it sound profound. Have fun.
Continue reading “Essay: External Shocks and Transformative Change”

The typewriter monkeys in the basement have been slacking off too much. But the riot act has been read out to them. It seems that their pace will likely pick up — and if it doesn’t, they will be fired. However they need to be paid. So if you wish to help out with the bananas and peanuts the monkeys relish, you could mail them in. But it may be easier for you to just click on the shiny new “Donate” button (conveniently placed on the right hand side column) and I will buy the provisions. OK?

Alright. Now if you have anything on your mind, please feel free to say it in the comments. Bouquets, brickbats, kudos and criticisms welcome.

Today marks the end of 10 years of this blog and the first day of the second decade of “Atanu Dey on India’s Development.” On Sept 12th, 2003, I had started this blog with the first post “Inspiration“.

Today is also the start of the first step in “Transforming India.” Not too shabby, if you ask me. Good luck to us all.

Wanted to wish you all a quick happy Ganesh Chaturthi. I have to run for a talk at the Center for Civil Society in New Delhi right now but later in the day I will do my traditional post on Ganesh. See Ganesh in Ireland for now.