From
the publisher
On September the first 1959 Raj and Romesh Thapar celebrated the
launch of their ‘third child’, SEMINAR. The journal was conceived of as a space
for free debate and discussion that embraced diverse and conflicting views in
an attempt to create a dialogue that would work towards a consensus of both
thought and action. India was at the time a fledgling nation state grappling
with the processes that made for a secure and robust democratic framework for
governance and for the socio-economic-political and cultural development,
growth and transformation that would energise change, fresh ideas and daring
interventions. It was a heady moment in the history of independent India.
Thinkers, philosophers, scientists, historians, academics, institution
builders, writers, artists, filmmakers, theatre persons, as also, artisans in
whose personas were embedded some of the finest of human skills, had all come
together to design an architecture from within which this extraordinary, albeit
fragile diversity, would break through the shackles of past colonial repression
and exploitation.
That was the mood then. SEMINAR soon became
the anchor for those multiple and free ranging ideas that were debated and
discussed with abandon, but within the constraints of the printed word bound
within two covers. Subjects jostled for attention month on month. Over the
decades, active minds, men and women young and old, some established and
recognised, others unknown, professionals and entrepreneurs, shared their
views, engaged with one another and SEMINAR extended the conversations taking
them, through its pages, into the larger public domain.
When Raj and Romesh
passed away in 1987, Tejbir and I took over the reins
and carried the tradition forward without a break. For Tejbir
it has always been a labour of love. His unflinching commitment to the idea of
SEMINAR and his sound belief that the journal had a pivotal role to play in the
fluid, ever-changing landscape of this country, through generations of
post-independent India, kept it young and robust, reflecting a new time and
age. Our office, like that of Raj and Romesh, was an adda for people to congregate, exchange ideas, argue and
debate, devise interesting thematics for the
magazine, and more. Partnerships and friendships ensued. The unexpected
unfolded with regularity. We were never short of ideas for future issues of
SEMINAR. We were constantly exploring, excavating and enjoying every moment of
the privilege of being an island where conversation was free and where
positions taken were respected. There was a generosity of spirit.
Today, having done 64 years of SEMINAR as a
monthly publication, Tejbir and I have taken a tough
decision to restructure and reboot the idea of SEMINAR for yet another moment
in time. Therefore, this is not an endgame. We want to pause a while; design
and share a valuable archive of the ‘mind’ of India as it evolved over sixty
four years; and every four months, publish an issue of SEMINAR in January, May,
September. I have no doubt other similar interventions will happen over time.
We shall stay connected through our website (www.india-seminar.com).
I want to thank you all for having been an
intrinsic part of this rare and special journey where we, together, explored
the world of ideas through an orchestra of different divergent voices, that all
stemmed from the same basic and fundamental note – truth and the freedom of
expression.
Malvika Singh
Publisher, ‘Seminar’