KumKum Dasgupta is with the opinion section of Hindustan Times. She writes on education, environment, gender, urbanisation and civil society.
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Articles by KumKum Dasgupta
Maneka Gandhi’s idea half-baked but we need to look beyond criticism
Union minister Maneka Gandhi’s statement in Jaipur on Tuesday about informing women of the sex of the foetus and then tracking their pregnancies has been severely criticised by several NGOs and public health professionals.
Updated on Feb 03, 2016 04:58 PM IST
KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi
Insurgency: Manipur’s one and only functioning industry
There is something really rotten in Manipur. And we don’t need a policeman’s ‘confession’ to corroborate it.
Updated on Jan 29, 2016 09:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
JLF 2016: We need new narratives on Partition, says Ayesha Jalal
Setting the agenda for a session entitled The Great Partition at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur on Monday, moderator Vazira Zamindar, associate professor of history, Brown University, said the event raises difficult questions about 20th century nationalism, minority rights, gender violence and massive displacement.
Updated on Jan 25, 2016 08:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: India’s visual culture, an embarrassment of riches
Does India have a single visual culture? This and much more was discussed during a session titled Outside In, Inside Out: Decoding India’s Visual Culture at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Sunday.
Published on Jan 25, 2016 04:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
My camera is pretty small: Steve McCurry at JLF 2016
Though he is best known by his iconic photograph of an Afghan refugee girl in 1984, Steve McCurry has covered many areas of international conflict, and India, “the ground zero of photographic material,” since 1978. Here, McCurry speaks about his craft and his new book on India
Updated on Jan 25, 2016 02:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
Start-ups create jobs, let them flourish: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Chairman and managing director of Biocon Limited Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Sunday said that start-ups should not be regulated and that the government’s new policy announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 has several hidden regulations.
Updated on Jan 25, 2016 02:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: Tristram Hunt on the hubris of British empire
British Labour Party politician, historian, and broadcast journalist Tristram Hunt has gone beyond the now-familiar debate about the empire being good or bad and taken a fresh approach to the legacy of Britain’s empire.
Updated on Jan 24, 2016 03:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
What makes South Asians laugh? Suhel Seth has the answer
Asked whether humour is universal, Seth was in his element: “Humour is not geography specific but community specific. In India, we laugh when a Merc has a flat tyre and you are in a Nano. We are generally happy people but the 9 pm TV just pisses us off,” he said in his characteristic style.
Updated on Jan 24, 2016 08:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
Creating a best-seller: Just a fluke or a clever marketing ploy?
In an entertaining session on Saturday, attended by a large number of young readers and wannabe authors, three popular authors -- Ravi Subramanian, Anuja Chauhan and Ravinder Singh -- spoke about best-sellers and about whether the creation of one is a fluke, a clever marketing ploy, or the confluence of market demands and credible narrative.
Updated on Jan 24, 2016 08:28 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: How bureaucracy is making Indian doctors leave the system
That the public is increasingly getting angry and restive about India’s frail health system was evident from the number of questions -- rather statements of helplessness in the face of the increasing corporatization of the sector -- that came up after the session on the ideas of wellbeing at the Jaipur Literature Fest on Friday.
Updated on Jan 23, 2016 02:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: I hate selfies but happily sign books, says Stephen Fry
The panelists Stephen Fry, Helen Macdonald, Blake Morrison, Christina Lamb, Brigid Keenan and Esther Freud discussed their trade and what pushes them to dip into their “inner selves” to write about their own lives at JLF 2016.
Updated on Jan 22, 2016 08:11 PM IST
KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: A tale of two Scotsmen and a laugh-a-minute session
The JLF session titled The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon: Celebrating Alexander McCall Smith was almost laugh-a-minute session with the author talking about his characters and books, his craft and experiences that have been the inspiration for his books.
Updated on Jan 22, 2016 02:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
The grow now, pay later model is ingrained in our mentality: Jairam
At JLF 2016’s Red Signals, Green Hopes session, former environment minister Jairam Ramesh gave three reasons why India must take a different development path: demographic pressure, climate change and livelihood concerns.
Updated on Jan 21, 2016 07:42 PM IST
KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
Need to learn how vacuum in Iraq created ISIS: Christina Lamb
War correspondent and author Christina Lamb says the West fought the war in Afghanistan with its hands tied, and turned a blind eye as the Taliban enemy was helped by ally Pakistan.
Updated on Jan 21, 2016 05:07 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
JLF 2016: 12 authors to look out for at Jaipur fest
JLF 2016 will see a host of celebrated international writers speak and interact at the fest. From Stephen Fry to Margaret Atwood, here’s a look at some of the big names attending this year’s festival.
Updated on Jan 20, 2016 08:18 PM IST
KumKum Dasgupta, Jaipur
HTLS 2015: Our primary level education system is in shambles
Our primary level education system is in a shambles. If it does not improve, it is bound to have a domino effect on the next stages of education writes KumKum Dasgupta
Updated on Dec 02, 2015 02:52 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
A gulf of trouble for Mannar, India’s climate change hotspot
Climate change, pollution and over-harvesting and poaching of marine species are destroying the treasure trove at the southeastern tip of the Indian subcontinent.
Updated on Nov 29, 2015 11:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, Ramanathpuram, Tamil Nadu
Nagaland govt’s silence over Assam Rifles notice is unacceptable
The Nagaland government’s failure to react to the circular sent by Assam Rifles to media houses is unacceptable.
Updated on Nov 21, 2015 01:53 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
Correcting ‘deep seated maladies’
The book recommends ideas and priorities that the country needs to shape public policies to face the challenges before it.
Updated on Oct 10, 2015 12:45 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi
With aid declining, charity must begin at ‘home’
It may not be apparent to many but philanthropy has grown considerably in India over the years and that growth is showing no signs of slowing writes KumKum Dasgupta
Updated on Oct 07, 2015 01:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
UN sustainable development goals have strong Indian footprint
The sustainable development goals, which the UN will adopt today, have a strong Indian footprint, writes KumKum Dasgupta
Updated on Sep 25, 2015 05:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
‘World still has far to go towards gender equality’
Gender inequality is the most pervasive form of inequality. Girls continue to experience various forms of discrimination and violence.
Updated on Sep 23, 2015 07:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New York
Fix MGNREGS first, ‘smart villages’ can wait
The MGNREGS decision is a well-meaning one and will enable states to ensure additional wage employment to the poor in drought-affected areas, help tackle rural seasonal unemployment and reduce distress. But this measure could end up being a cosmetic one unless the government fixes the existing problems of the scheme.
Updated on Sep 18, 2015 01:45 AM IST
None | KumKum Dasgupta
Using cultural institutions for govt propaganda isn't appropriate
The NDA government’s announcement that it plans to revamp 39 cultural institutions, including the iconic Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML), has kicked up a huge controversy. Understandably, the Congress is miffed; it has called the government’s plan “diabolical” and accused it of “subverting and diluting” the essential spirit and character of the NMML.
Updated on Sep 09, 2015 12:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
Revamping cultural institutions: Govt has some explaining to do
While discussion on contemporary issues is acceptable, but focusing it solely on the PM, BJP government and its policies only reveal what the government’s real aim is: Further its own agenda to rehaul and “rebalance” India’s history.
Updated on Sep 09, 2015 10:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
From Asaram to Radhe Maa: Five reasons why godmen thrive
There is nothing wrong for the gurus to dress the way they like but their secretive ways only shows their duplicity. Obviously, these un-sadhu ways did not go down well with their followers, who want their 'spiritual' leaders to maintain a certain 'standard' that matches the wares they promise to deliver, writes KumKum Dasgupta.
Updated on Aug 10, 2015 12:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi
India's silence on sustainable development goals is alarming
The UN is finalising a fresh set of development goals. But sadly the public in India has given the run-up a miss, writes KumKum Dasgupta
Updated on Sep 18, 2015 02:26 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta
Target to end poverty by 2030 is over-ambitious: Bjorn Lomborg
Bjorn Lomborg, the Copenhagen Consensus Center’s director and one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, spoke to KumKum Dasgupta on the Centre’s analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Updated on Sep 18, 2015 02:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi
Not just skills training, youth need good education too
'While I do think skill development will help many to get jobs, there is no substitute for a good, strong primary education; along with skills training, a good strong education will help the youth to maximise their potential in the long run,' writes KumKum Dasgupta.
Updated on Jul 15, 2015 01:13 PM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi
Govt funding not enough for people fighting against poverty
Meera Mitra's Breaking Through is a compilation of real life stories of people who, despite years of state planning and funding, are still struggling to claw their way out of the poverty sinkhole
Updated on Jul 04, 2015 10:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | KumKum Dasgupta, New Delhi