Great Plans for a Great Future

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Introduction

 

Independence and partition had brought a great many new needs to the city.

The economy probably more than any other Indian city geared towards the Empire for both markets and capital had to be restructured. Meanwhile its economic dominance was resented in the rest of India and it had also lost half of its regional market and many of the raw materials for its industries.

The strains of the war and the later political tensions had led to a long term neglect and sometimes deliberate destruction of the city's infrastructure, just at a time when millions of refugees had to be accommodated and integrated.

 

But independence and the new political stability under Dr. BC Roy also held many a new opportunities. Everyone expected things to get better now colonial exploitation had been ended.  West-Bengal and its metropolis Calcutta were now finally allowed to stand on their own two feet.

Bold decision could be taken for a new future at last: New buses, the start of the Ambassador car industry, an underground railway for Calcutta, new clean and modern satellite cities on its fringes, a new capital city even for a new West-Bengal untied with a natural resource rich Bihar to boost heavy Industry... 

Ambitious plans indeed, resources permitting of course...

 

 

General

 

 

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India's Budget

EXPECTATIONS of relief from the heavy burden of direct taxation imposed in the last budget of undivided India have been fulfilled in Mr Shanmukham Chetty's statement on Saturday to the Indian Parliament, the first Budget for a full year in Free India. Mr Chetty frankly. admits the unwisdom of pitching direct taxation too high in a country undergoing development; incentive and formation of capital are retarded, industrial expansion lags. This reasonable view of fiscal policy, which has been consistently pressed on the Government during the past twelve months and not by business men only, is now translated into action. The severity of the Business Profits Tax and supertax is lessened; last year's complicated plan to secure the ploughing back of profits is simplified and made milder ; smaller companies are encouraged, over-due relief is given in respect of municipal taxation. To sum up, Mr Chetty has not departed from the ideals of social justice proclaimed in last February's budget, but he has adopted methods, less crude and destructive, recognizing that the country's primary need is more production. Trade and industry, which has languished for months, should now be able to play a more active part in the battle against inflation. They will be further stimulated if the industrial truce is implemented in the letter and spirit, and the notorious bottlenecks, in transport for instance, are ended by vigorous administrative action.

To meet the resulting deficit the Finance Minister has had recourse to a variety of excise and export duties. The latter may be defended on the ground that they fall on the purchaser abroad; the former because they reduce consumption, as is desirable in a period when too much money is chasing too few goods. Import duties, once the mainstay of Indian finances, are no longer dependable owing to difficulties over foreign exchange.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, February 29, 1948)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

A Taxing Budget

SIR Chintaman Deshmukh's Budget speech on Wednesday resembled the Railway Minister's in its guileless preface to what can only euphemistically be described as a mild shock. His series of tax proposals in conjunction with the rise in railway fares, affects all classes of the community, and there will, therefore, be much to discuss in and outside of Parliament. The first important point is the justification for raising so large a sum as Rs 31.15 crores in new revenue when his figures show an estimated revenue deficit of only Rs 5.54 crores. He has also, he says, the problem of "covering, as far as possible, the more substantial deficit on capital account (Rs 78 crores) while closing the Budget year with an adequate balance".

The contrast with Dr Matthai's Budget speech last year is rather striking. That announced relief from taxation. Dr Matthai further enunciated the view that the present level of taxation was uneconomic in the sense that the country's economy could not bear it. The effect of the then level of taxation, he said, was not deflationary but. positively inflationary, especially because reducing the margin of saving. It is against this background that consideration must be given to the increase in corporation tax and surcharge on income and super tax, the latter proposal has an ominous sound in assessees' ears after Sir George Schuster's "temporary" surcharge, which ended by becoming permanent.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, March 1, 1951)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

India and the USA

THE USA has welcomed its distinguished guest, the Prime-Minister of India, with characteristic warm-heartedness and hospitality. Social and informational—to use American phraseology - as the visit is officially described, it nevertheless seems destined to be a landmark in Indo-US relations. At this juncture of human affairs onerous responsibility rests on the nations and nothing but good should come from closer contacts such as these in the common task of ensuring the world's peace and happiness. As emissary of a new State with an age-long civilization and high ideals derived from origins ancient as well as modem. Pandit Nehru has eminent qualities. Moreover, his attractive personality, intellectual vigour and patent sincerity make him an acceptable and persuasive interpreter of the Old World to the New.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, October 15, 1949)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

Sardar Patel

IN the death of Sardar Patel India has suffered a grievous is blow, scarcely softened by being not wholly unexpected. Though in precarious health for two years or so, he rallied after each earlier crisis and was soon back at work again, a little slower in is, movement perhaps, and unable to enjoy his famous early morning walks, but alert and indomitable, and not sparing himself even long, tiring journeys when he felt that these were required of him. Thus, it was hoped, it might be again; but hope was cheated and he died in his home State of Bombay, though not, as he might have preferred on the countryside on which lately his thoughts often gratefully lingered.

The word "irreplaceable" is tarnished by frequent use. Truly everybody is irreplaceable, because individual and, so, unique. But in the broader sense, those who cannot be replaced are very few. Sardar Patel for India, was one.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, December 16, 1950)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

Sick at Heart

AT last the malady in the Congress has reached its crisis. Evidently what went before were merely premonitory symptoms. Now the heart is affected, and even if there should be what seems complete recovery, weakness is likely to remain. Who would have thought that, only eight months after the passing of Sardar Patel, it would come to this? The seemingly indestructible Congress organization is, with the elections less than five months off, falling to hits before the eyes of the astonished country. Most amazing perhaps of all, this has not only happened when relations with Pakistan are so severely strained that threatened nationwide strikes have been called off, but it is the Prime Minister who has brought it about. He must feel very strongly indeed about the present condition of the Congress to have taken such a step.

There have, from time to time, been hints of action somewhat of this sort. For example, when after the resignation of Acharya Kripalani. Mr Kidwai and others sought to get the Working Committee changed, it was suggested that they had Mr Nehru's consent, if not approval. Moreover, his reluctance to join the Working Committee originally was well known. It may, therefore, be assumed that the present decision was not a hasty one. Like too much which affects Indian life at the moment, it may have had both an immediate and a remote cause in the obscure complexities of U.P. politics. Moreover, a challenge has twice lately been issued which would imply that Congress committees must exercise control over Governments, their policies and personnel. However, we think that the root of the matter lies deeper. It would have been possible to carry on until after the elections and then meet the challenge. But Mr Nehru has picked on the present troubled times. Presumably, therefore, he considers that there is not a moment to lose and that if he, incomparably its greatest surviving asset in popular opinion, is to lead the Congress to the polls, it must be a party which sincerely upholds the principles which he has several times enunciated, and it accepted but, as he believes, without sincerity.

On the whole it seems preferable that, if there had to be a crisis, it should come in this way. rather than as a result of Mr Kidwai's manoeuvring. Now a decision must be taken, quickly.

(source: The Statesman. Calcutta/Delhi, August 12, 1951)

(COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Reproduced under 'fair dealing' terms as part of a non commercial educational research project. The copyright remains with The Statesman)

 

 

 

 

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31 July 1948 - Calcutta State Transport Corporation starts up

 

 

 

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1949 - First discussions on building a MetroRail

 

 

 

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1948 - The Hindustan 10 rolls of the assembly line at Hindustan Motors

 

 

 

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The Bengal-Bihar merger plan

 

 

 

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The new capital City

 

 

 

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A new Calcutta on the lakes

 

 

 

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Home    Sitemap    Reference    Last updated: 11-March-2009

 

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If there are any technical problems, factual inaccuracies or things you have to add,

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