“Modernity and the Vernacular,” by Amit Chaudhuri

Published with permission of Pan Macmillan through PLSclear.

The texts mentioned in the illustration in the header are as follows (Top to Bottom): Abol Tabol (Nonsense Rhymes), Sukumar Ray; Jalshaghar (The Music Room), Tarasankar Bandopadhyay; Rupashi Bangla (Beautiful Bengal), Jibanananda Das; Samskara, UR Ananthamurthy; Madhushala, Harivansh Rai Bacchan; Hajar Churashir Ma (Mother of 1084), Mahasweta Devi; Tithidore, Buddhadev Bose.