Read The Diplomat, Know The Asia-Pacific

The Diplomat | Author

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, 2023

Indian Opposition’s Turn to Caste Politics Unnerves Ruling BJP

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Bihar state’s caste-based population survey could increase PM Modi’s challenges ahead of next year's parliamentary election.

September 08, 2023

With ‘One Nation, One Election’ Call, Modi Government Intensifies Efforts to Centralize Power

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The move has triggered apprehensions over the fate of state assembly elections due in a few months.

September 06, 2023

Indian Government Responses to Reports on Journalism in Conflict Zones Reflect Dark Times

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The BBC and the Editors’ Guild of India are facing the government’s wrath for criticizing the state of media affairs.

August 29, 2023

Turmoil in India’s Ashoka University Over Academic Freedom

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

A faculty member wrote a paper about electoral manipulations in the 2019 general election, which prompted intelligence officials to visit the university to uncover his “motives.”

August 02, 2023

Modi Government Acts to Hasten the ‘Slow Death’ of India’s Right to Information Act

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

If passed by Parliament, the Digital Data Protection Bill will deal a severe blow to transparency in government functioning.

July 18, 2023

Modi’s Silence Gets Starker as India’s Riot-ravaged Manipur State Gains Global Attention

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

The European Parliament passed a resolution expressing concern over “divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism” in Manipur, a rap on the knuckles of Modi’s BJP.

July 11, 2023

India Rejects Hague Court Order on Indus Water Treaty

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

New Delhi believes the 63-year-old Treaty needs updating due to technological advances and climate change.

June 15, 2023

Recommended Changes in India’s Sedition Law May Intensify Government’s War Against Dissent

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

A mere inclination to incite violence rather than proof of actual violence or imminent threat to violence is reason for conviction under the suggested expanded scope of the law.

June 07, 2023

How the Myanmar Crisis Threatens to Destabilize India’s Manipur State

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Allegations of illegal immigration from Myanmar, involving members of the Kuki-Chin ethnic group, contributed to the recent ethnic violence that claimed more than 80 lives.

June 02, 2023

The Short Life of India’s 2,000-Rupee Note

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

Introduced when the 500- and 1,000-rupee notes were demonetized in 2016, the 2,000-rupee note has now been pulled out of circulation.

May 15, 2023

Victory in Karnataka State Election Boosts India’s Congress Party

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

While all opposition parties celebrated the BJP's defeat, some of them are alarmed by the prospect of a revived Congress.

May 04, 2023

Modi Silent as India’s Women Wrestlers Grapple with Sexual Harassment by BJP MP

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya

While the accused politician, who heads the Wrestling Federation of India, has refused to resign, the protesters threatened to continue the stir till they get justice.