Sankar Kumar Bhaumik
Published: 1993-09-28
Total Pages: 204
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"The author must be credited with making an objective and analytical study of the highly controversial issues, which more often than not run into ideological warnings. The book deserves the attention of the scholars having interest in this area of research." --Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics Tenancy Relations and Agrarian Development offers a comprehensive understanding of the complex agrarian structure existing in rural West Bengal. Focusing specifically on the issue of share tenancy, the author carefully builds a historical profile of the events which were responsible for the spread of this system in colonial Bengal and which ultimately led to the growth of stringent and exploitative conditions of work which typify West Bengal today. As for the post-independence period, the author examines tenancy reform measures and analyzes the National Sample Survey data as well as actual field data. "Sankar Bhaumik has provided a comprehensive study with an in-depth analysis and careful interpretation of empirical data which will be very useful to social scientists, planners and politicians." --Seminar "Bhaumik's work is commendable in almost pioneering an empirical study on tenancy reforms in post 1977 West Bengal, without losing the overall perspective and framework of these changes." --Social Action "The book serves its purpose well by offering rich evidence and insights to those interested in understanding the issues of tenancy from broad historical as well as empirical perspective . . . . Tenancy Relations and Agrarian Development is a welcome addition to the existing literature on tenancy relations in particular and land reforms in literature on tenancy relations in a particular and land reforms in general. This publication will be useful to policymakers, students, and academicians within and outside West Bengal." --The Administrator "The study provides a clear understanding of the historical processes through which the tenancy system evolved in Bengal, the role it entailed for the partners in tenancy contracts and the manner in which tenancy relations were modified at different phases in history." --Rural Development Abstracts "For many years, scholars have focused on the question of agrarian development in India. Sankar Kumar Bhaumik's book is a very valuable addition to this literature. Concentrating on the issue of tenancy relations in West Bengal, it provides both new insights to changes that have occurred in agriculture there as well as a broader comparative perspective on that form of production for capitalist development as a whole. One of the strengths of this study is its capacity to place its mode of enquiry within the general theoretical debate on share tenancy and to locate its outcomes in terms of the issues raised by this body of literature. Another strength is its understanding of the historical forces which have shaped the condition of post-colonial share tenancy in West Bengal. Indeed, these two factors, along with the comprehensive grasp of available empirical matter, make it an excellent book.... Bhaumik has produced an excellent study, informed not only by a clear mastery of the theoretical and historical literature relating to the issue of tenancy relations in West Bengal, but also by an enviable grasp of the empirical dimensions and details of such relationships. For those interested in tenancy relations in West Bengal, this book is necessary reading. For those interested in tenancy relations throughout India or comparative regions, this book is highly recommended reading." --South Asia
