First the briefing, only done by the so famous journalist Sagarika Ghosh, (a known Modi antagonist), the economist and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen told that academic freedom is being threatened in India under this government . In May 2007, Sen was appointed chairman of the Nalanda Mentor Group which would govern the establishment of the Nalanda International University and subsequently on July 19, 2012, he was named first chancellor of the proposed university for a three year term. Now as it is made known to the public that he had stepped down on his own as chancellor of Nalanda University by opting not to seek a second term,but the Nobel laureate lashed out at what he called the lack of academic freedom in India under the Narendra Modi government.
Now the main interview of the the great academician and Nobel prize winning economist, Amartya Sen was conducted by the TOI team once it was known to public of that the President has not confirmed his second term. But still he chose to blame the present government,when he said,"but I believe, the President wasn't given permission by the government to co-sign the board decision operationalizing my second term."
TOI asked the first question to the renowned Economist:
"What explains AAP's big win in Delhi ?"
The Economist in Amartya Sen answered the political question : "The mandate partly expresses disappointment with Modi's government. It'd be a mistake to think it had nothing to do with Modi. Though I disagree with Modi on some things, I admired him for generating a sense of hope, particularly since the previous government was ineffective.Modi has a can-do approach. By the time Delhi voted, can-do was not happening. Can-do was in fact not begun to be done. As proud Indians, we care about tolerance and religious freedom. Churches were being attacked.Ghar wapsi isn't a good way to induce people to move from one religion to another. Jhuggiwalas always remained Kejriwal supporters. But New Delhi,Old Delhi,Civil Lines,South Delhi moved to Kejriwal.To them the fact that secularism is in danger is of some importance."
TOI asked the Second question to the renowned Economist:
"There's disappointment with Modi's government?
The Economist and Academician Amartya Sen answered : "Governance isn't the same as driving a bullock cart through everything. The state consists of a government, a judiciary . There are differences within government, the Upper House and the Lower House. The Constituent Assembly had dwelt a lot on if the Lower House goes a certain way in a wave, the security is that the Upper House moves slowly , so a wave doesn't capture both, so much of that wisdom of the Constitution came through. Government is being taken as getting your way beyond the Constitution, not violating it. But there's the intent of the Constitution that you must keep in mind.
"Your assessment of Modi's government Modi has brought a certain hope.Congress and Left have left people feeling hopeless. Modi had an easy field. His big victory is largely a Congress defeat. I don't know whether the wake-up call has gone through to Congress and Left. I'm not a Congress supporter. I won't support a non-secular party . I could vote AAP. I've voted Left. My MP was Somnath Chatterjee.You can't see yourself voting for BJP? BJP isn't my kind of party .
TOI asked the Third political question in a row to the renowned Economist : "Is pro-poor, Left politics re-emerging?"
To utmost surprise to the readers on the great Economist's greater knowledge of the running politics in India and about the bigger virtues of newly born AAP, when he answered like a polished politician, : "Rhetorically , all Indian parties are pro-poor -question is what they do on the ground. There's a perception that Kejriwal understands difficulties of those excluded socially from the privileges that the middle class and upper class get. That understanding has become bigger. Left parties are in doldrums. There are good theorists among AAP like Yogendra Yadav . AAP has indicated an ability to learn and win."
INDIA HONEST is not least surprised with the interview,as it seems as a sheer game of capturing more ground of the opponents. Once the other great economist Manmohan Singh decided to leave economics and joined full fledged politics and become the PM, it was a clear case of trespassing on the area occupied by the politicians.While the Economist Sen also has some preset notions on politician Modi for last one decade.
Both willingly agree to disagree on various matter other than economics, where it is well known that the other cherished economist Dr. Bhagwati has greater influence on the thoughts and policies of Modi. While many disagree with economist Sen's views on the open international forum on Gujarat riots, that was allegedly best used by Congress to stop Modi and BJP for whole one decade, even denying him Visa to West.
INDIA HONEST surprises on the deep knowledge of economist Sen on the micro details of politics in Delhi, when he said," Jhuggiwalas always remained Kejriwal supporters. But New Delhi, Old Delhi, Civil Lines, South Delhi moved to Kejriwal.".
Was this his personal knowledge or few clippings were added by the AAP promoting media team ? Yes its true that TOI has already lost much ground on its neutrality in the conduct of debates and broadcasting, as seen during the last election, while it was found openly showcasing communal stories on one side and hiding the corrupt two crore donation episode, only to influence the viewers in a biased way.
Moreover one thing is beyond the easy understanding power of innocent Indians and proud Bengalis, who so much love Amartya Sen, that if the whole world which recognised and respected Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen as an economist was wrong or if he is a great and micro political analyst, that is not known to the world ? Hope TOI team could solve the puzzle .