Rift being created between communities resulting from political opportunism: Amartya Sen

By PTI

KOLKATA: Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday mentioned a rift is being created between communities on account of “political opportunism”.

Sen additionally lamented that the colonial observe of imprisoning folks resulting from political causes remains to be being continued, a long time after India gained independence.

“There is an effort to divide Indians. Create a rift in the co-existence of Hindus and Muslims on account of political opportunism,” he mentioned throughout a digital handle on the centenary celebration of ‘Anandabazar Patrika’.

The first version of the Bengali language each day, one of many largest newspapers within the nation, was revealed on March 13, 1922 with Prafullakumar Sarkar as its founding-editor.

The newspaper which had a decidedly nationalistic stance, was described at beginning by the Englishman newspaper as “a new Bengali daily coloured (Red) like a danger signal.”

Speaking of the early days, Sen mentioned, “At that time (pre-independence period), several people in the country including relatives working for the Anandabazar Patrika were imprisoned for political reasons. I was very young then and while visiting them at jail, I often used to question whether this practice of incarcerating people without their committing any crime will ever stop.”

“Subsequently, India became independent, but this exercise is still very much in existence,” the 88-year-old celebrated economist mentioned.

He mentioned that whereas unbiased India had made progress on many counts, points resembling poverty, well being considerations remained and the newspaper had been highlighting these in an goal method. There is little doubt that efforts have to be made to pursue the trail of justice, he added.

Earlier this month, Sen had expressed concern over the present state of affairs in India, and mentioned folks ought to work in direction of sustaining unity.

“I think if someone asks me if I’m scared of something, I would say ‘yes’. There is a reason to be afraid now. The current situation in the country has become a cause for fear,” the Nobel laureate had mentioned on the inauguration of Amartya Research Centre in Salt Lake in Kolkata.

The octogenarian had additionally confused the necessity to keep united consistent with the nation’s traditions. “I want the country to be united. I don’t want division in a country that was historically liberal. We have to work together,” he mentioned.