The curious trajectory of caste in West Bengal politics: chronicling continuity and change

Party politics in West Bengal is a complex and ever-evolving phenomenon deeply rooted in the state's socio-cultural history. This overview explores the dynamic landscape of party politics in West Bengal, tracing its historical evolution and examining the key players, ideological underpinnings, electoral strategies, and socio-economic factors that have influenced voter preferences over the years. From the pre-independence era's freedom struggle to the contemporary political dynamics dominated by the All-India Trinamool Congress (AITC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), West Bengal's political journey reflects its vibrant cultural mosaic and socio-political complexities. This paper also discusses the current scenario in West Bengal, highlighting the role of various political parties in recent local and assembly elections. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of academic papers and journals on various aspects of West Bengal's politics, governance, and societal dynamics. While existing literature touches on governance-related aspects like healthcare policies, decentralisation, and power sector reforms, there is a research gap in integrating these elements to provide a holistic assessment of West Bengal's governance model. The paper identifies this research gap and calls for a more comprehensive study that explores the interplay of political decisions, decentralisation efforts, and policy reforms in shaping the state's development and governance outcomes.

The electoral decline of the organised Left in West Bengal politics has given rise to intellectual speculation about the increasing possibility of caste politics. In this context, this article investigates whether there is any merit in the claim that the electoral decline of the Left Front has paved the way for the rise of caste at the centre stage of mainstream electoral politics in West Bengal. It asks whether lower castes have started to mobilise politically in West Bengal in the same way as in many other states. The article argues against the claim of ‘a new politics of caste’ in West Bengal by showing that the electoral decline of the Left Front has not been accompanied by any rise in lower caste representation. In this context, the article also attempts to understand the reasons for the continuing non-politicisation of caste in West Bengal, revealing many factors relating to demography and political economy which don’t augur well for caste politics in West Bengal.

A Review of Ayan Guha's The Curious Trajectory of Caste in West Bengal Politics: Chronicling the Continuity and Change

Ayan Guha, The Curious Trajectory of Caste in West Bengal Politics: Chronicling Continuity and Change (Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2022), x + 309 pp.

In contrast to the party political turmoil that plagued New Delhi during the 1990s, West Bengal is an Indian state that has demonstrated remarkable stability. Atul Kohli has made much of this contrast, arguing that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has held power in West Bengal since 1977 through the combination of its organisational and ideological coherence. His wider conclusion is that the institutionalisation of political parties is essential in staving off the 'crises of governability' faced by many democracies in developing countries. At a time when 'good governance' is a major theme within development studies, Kohli's thesis deserves close attention. This paper critically examines his work in two ways. Empirically, it questions elements of his portrayal of the CPI(M), and West Bengal's politics more generally, as 'exceptional'. In theoretical terms, it questions Kohli's treatment of political institutions, arguing that more attention should be given to institutional culture and political discourses.

Part 1 Poor people love to eat fish. Part 2 Beyond enumeration - the construction of poverty in 19th-century Britain and 20th-century India: introduction the construction of poverty in 19th-century Britain measurement and morality - Charles Booth and Joseph Rowntree solutions to poverty and regulation of the poor poverty measurement in India contemporary poverty measurement and poverty-line language the construction of the poor in contemporary political science the story so far. Part 3 dimension of human agency: introduction entitlement and capability theory as an alternative to poverty measurement people's history and agency E.P. Thompson, agency and experience the concept of agency the concept of experience Thompson and moral economy theory understanding poor people's priorities and knowledge the perspective of the poor from contemporary South Asia the saga continues.... Part 4 West Bengal - the case study area: introduction geography, agriculture and population in Bengal and West Bengal historical and political background to Bengal and West Bengal the agrarian structure in West Bengal politics and agrarian reform in West Bengal conclusions. Part 5 villages and the study: how the study came to be done and how it was carried out background to the case study villages land operation and employment in the three villages economic categorization conclusions. Part 6 There may have been some benefits from the new farming, but I haven't seen any - agricultural development and land reform in the study villages: the in South Asia the green revolution comes to Fonogram land type and land use in the Fonogram area cropping patterns and adoption rates in the boro crop seasons, 1986-7 to 1988-9 who gained most from the green revolution? absentee landlordism land sales and land mortgaging there may have been some benefits from the new farming... - benefits to the landless and perceptions of the poor social change and the green revolution land reform in the Midnapore case study villages conclusions. Part 7 Surviving against the odds in the case study villages - everyday strategies and priorities: introduction who are the poorest? access to the natural resource base and common property resources poorest people and food sharerearing of livestock poorest people and assets conclusions. Part 8 The rich don't help the poor and they never did - power and the poorest. Part 9 Death comes to poorest households. Part 10 Rich people like to eat fish and throw poor people the bones.

As the Communist and Congress Parties continue their downfall in West Bengal, two parties relying heavily on identity politics are entrenching their positions as the main political forces of the state: the Trinamool Congress with its pro-Bengali discourse and the Bharatiya Janata Party with its pro-Hindu discourse. Yet, we know little about how the political mobilization of these different regional and religious identities interact in potentially conflicting manners and inform political choices, especially among groups and individuals who identify with both. This paper interrogates the relationship between regional identity, religious identity and political opinions in the state of West Bengal. Backing its conclusions with the results of a qualitative study investigating multi-ethnic Hindu religious organizations, this article argues that, although strongly identifying as a Hindu favours the endorsement of Hindu Nationalist political ideas, identification to the Bengali identity is a stronger determinant of one’s vote.

The Curious Trajectory of Caste in West Bengal Politics

The Curious Trajectory of Caste in West Bengal Politics: Chronicling Continuity and Change

Glamour in Politics: The Share of Winnability of Celebrities in West Bengal Politics (2011-2021)

West Bengal politics at the crossroads

It was expected that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September 2011 would transform India–Bangladesh relations. However, this did not happen as India could not sign the Teesta water sharing agreement, the biggest deliverable of the visit. It also made some people brand West Bengal (Paschimbanga) Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as a spoiler. But did West Bengal stop central government from achieving a historic diplomatic breakthrough for narrow political objectives, or were its leaders only protecting their state interests, which central government may not have been fully able to understand being far away from the region? This article examines the impact of West Bengal politics on India–Bangladesh relations and argues that the role played by the states can often add value to foreign policy making and might actually prevent the centre from jeopardising local interests, thereby protecting national interests as well. The India–Bangladesh relationship can improve if treaties are negotiated in such a way that they become win-win for both sides. This will happen if the treaties are signed after due diligence, taking into account all stakeholders, and if they are implemented sincerely.