Swapan Dasgupta

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The Right is an endangered community in India's English-language media. I happen to be one of the few to have retained a precarious toe-hold in the mainstream media.

Throughout these years, Dasgupta emphasized the value of English in reaching out to the elites — who were allegedly mass-committed to the left-liberal cause — and winning them over towards hindutva; [20] he was one of the most fierce critics of the pro-vernacular policies followed by the communist government of West Bengal. [21]

Legislation

In April 2016, the incumbent BJP government nominated Dasgupta to the Rajya Sabha as an eminent personality in literature; his term would have continued till 2022. [22] However, in 2021, Dasgupta resigned from Rajya Sabha to contest the Legislative Assembly election in West Bengal for BJP from Tarakeswar; he lost by over 7000 votes. A month later, Dasgupta was renominated to the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of his original term — opposition politicians and constitutional scholars questioned the legal soundness of the renomination.

Reception

Meera Nanda finds Dasgupta among India's most prominent center-right public intellectuals. [23] [24] Arvind Tajagopal found Dasgupta among the most vocal enthusiasts for the spread of Hindutva, in English language press in the 80s. [25] Scholars have located parallels between his writings and the thought school of Hindu nationalist organisations. [26] [27] [28]

Personal life

He is married to Reshmi Ray Dasgupta, Lifestyle Editor at The Economic Times and has a son who is a practicing lawyer in the Supreme Court of India. [8] They reside in New Delhi. [8]

Bibliography

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References

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Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta in May 2016 (cropped).jpg
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
1 June 2021 24 April 2022