This is the first-ever inventory and enquiry into Swadeshi enterprise in Bengal exhaustively done in all fields such as textiles, drugs and chemicals, leather, shipping, tobacco, pottery, iron foundry, match, stationary, banking, insurance etc. An important addition is a case study of P.M. Bagchi and Co. An analysis of the policy of the colonial government forms an important chapter. Problems of capital formation, investment, technical know-how are discussed in detail. This work argues with a wealth of information that it is the aspect of self-reliance and contradiction with British imperialist capital, rather than dependence on and collaboration with it that constituted the principal aspect in the process of the development of the small and middle Swadeshi bourgeoisie. This section of the Indian bourgeoisie, though economically weak, represented national aspirations and sought to attain economic development free from foreign control. It is a major reference work on a neglected, yet crucial period of economic transition in Bengal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amit Bhattacharyya
Amit Bhattacharyya was educated at Presidency College and Jadavpur University, Kolkata. At present, he teaches in the Department of History, JU. His major publications include 1) Swadeshi Enterprise in Bengal 1900-1920 (Calcutta 1986), a slightly revised version of a dissertation for which he was awarded the Ph.D. degree by Jadavpur University in 1985; 2) Swadesh Interprise in Bengal the Second Phase 1921-1947 (Calcutta 1995), a post-doctoral work that was subsequently extended and for which he was awarded the D. Litt. Degree by Jadavpur University in 2000; 3) Disha O Dishari Chin Biplab O Mao Tse-tung-er ekti Bastunishtha Bishleshan (Kolkata, 2003). Books edited jointly with others: 1) Political Economy and Protest in Colonial India (Calcutta 1997); 2) Science, Technology, Medicine and Environment in India Historical Perspectives (Calcutta 1998). His other publications include articles on various aspects of the Economic History of Modern India, History of Modern China, Ancient India, State terrorism and violation of Human Rights in West Bengal and others.
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