COMMUNICATION
Sailendranath Ghosh, who left us for his heavenly abode in October, will be remembered forever for his deep understanding and writings about an alternative development paradigm. His highly original, perceptive and path-showing writings on environment protection and alternative development path will be cherished for long. These will always remain an invaluable resource for those searching for a more ecologically protective, more humane and just development path.
I had the privilege of receiving words of encouragement from him from time to time. During his last days he rang me several times to tell me about his plan to bring out his writings in a book form. He sought my advice on this. I told him that while his valuable writings were many, it may be helpful to first bring out a relatively smaller volume of the most important among the many important writings. I knew that his health was frail and he had been ailing, and felt that it was important to first achieve a less time-consuming task. Once the first volume came out and was well circulated, I suggested, then the remaining writings could be taken up in other volumes.
Sailen Ghosh was a long-standing friend of Mainstream, N.C. and Sumitji. This was one place where he could be sure that his writings would be published properly. He shuddered to comply with the requirements of big newspapers which told him to confine his pieces to 800 words.
I hope that it will be possible in the near future for the writings of Sailenda to become available to more and more people at a time when the search for an alternative development paradigm is becoming increasingly important.
Bharat Dogra
C-27, Raksha Kunj,
Paschim Vihar,
New Delhi-110063