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Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, the author of two non-fiction books on India’s ultra-Left and the Hindu right, writes and comments on India’s politics, environment, human rights and culture.

Snigdhendu Bhattacharya is an independent journalist, writing on India’s politics, history, data, environment, human rights and culture since 2005. A former special correspondent of the Hindustan Times, he has been published in The Wire, Outlook magazine, The Caravan, Mongabay India, Huffpost India, Nikkei Asia, The Third Pole, Deccan Herald, The Times of India, Live History India and IndiaSpend, among others. He takes a special regional interest in eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh. He has two books of political nonfiction published by HarperCollins India — Mission Bengal: A Saffron Experiment (2020) and Lalgarh and the Legend of Kishanji: Tales from India’s Maoist Movement (2016). He is a recipient of EJN’s Asia-Pacific Climate and Environmental Story Grant.

Posts by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

October 09, 2024

Jammu & Kashmir Election Hands Clear Mandate to Opposition Alliance

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The results also indicate a triumph of Kashmir’s mainstream political forces over separatist sympathizers.

September 30, 2024

RSS, the Ideological Mentor of India’s Ruling BJP, Enters its 100th Year

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Its overwhelming grip over institutions has been possible because in the century gone by the RSS has transformed into a massive banyan tree that stands on a hundred trunks.

September 03, 2024

Islamic Fundamentalism Raises Its Head in Post-Hasina Bangladesh

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Many statues like those of Mujibur Rahman were defaced for political reasons. But targeting sculptures like that of Lady Justice lay bare the Islamists’ anti-statue agenda.

August 23, 2024

Unprecedented Floods Fuel Bangladesh-India Tension

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Amid a surge in anti-India sentiment, Bangladeshis accuse India of opening the floodgates of a dam without warning, and demand better transboundary river management

August 14, 2024

Indian Government’s Intensifying Attack on Scientific Temperament Worries Scientists

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Leaders are making unscientific claims of imaginary technological achievements and exaggerated ideas about ancient Indian knowledge systems to build a hyper-nationalist narrative.

July 16, 2024

The Carbon Footprints of Indian Business Tycoon’s Head-Turning Wedding Display

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The marathon celebration over Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son Anant’s wedding could go down in history as one of the most expensive – in both cash and carbon.

July 03, 2024

Medical Entrance Scam Charge Hits Modi Government

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Irregularities in two top competitive exams have revived the federalism debate in India.

June 12, 2024

Was There a Scam in India’s Exit Poll Predictions?

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The opposition has alleged that exit polls were used to inflate the share market temporarily.

June 11, 2024

How Different Will Modi 3.0 Be From Previous Terms?

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Modi will need to set aside some Hindu nationalist goals to hold on to the support of his secular allies in government.

June 10, 2024

How Minorities Voted in the Indian General Election

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Results show that Muslims and Christians largely consolidated behind the Congress and its allies.

June 05, 2024

Decoding India’s Elections: How Modi’s Grip Loosened

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Modi's BJP lost its majority, meaning it will be heavily dependent on allies this term.

May 29, 2024

Narendra Modi’s Decade Without Press Conferences

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

In the ten years he has been India’s prime minister Modi has faced only one press conference – in 2019, when he let his colleague Amit Shah answer all the questions.