In 2014, as the Coalgate scandal rocked the country, the Supreme Court ordered an end to almost all existing partnerships to exploit captive coal blocks. This included joint ventures and mining agreements between state-owned and private companies, which often favoured private interests. But at Parsa East and Kanta Basan, a block reallocated in 2015 to a corporation of the Rajasthan government, pre-2014 agreements with a company of the Adani Group have continued, promising undue gains of Rs 6,000 crore at the very least. This is clear in public documents, yet there has been no action by the government of Narendra Modi, who has made no secret of his closeness with the chairman of the Adani Group, Gautam Adani.
Also in this issue:
Atul Bhattarai on the movement to rebuild an iconic monument in earthquake-hit Nepal; Tisaranee Gunasekara on how the ruling parties’ defeat in local polls has dealt a blow to Sri Lanka’s democratising process; Anushka Shah and Zeenab Aneez analyse the Indian media’s unsettling coverage of farmer protests in 2017; Sunil Khilnani examines a new book about Joseph Conrad and his world; Blake Smith looks at the history of France’s preoccupation with India; Alec Jacobsen reveals the extent of overfishing in Uganda.
The country's first and only publication devoted to narrative journalism, The Caravan occupies a singular position among Indian magazines. It is a new kind of magazine for a new kind of reader, one who demands both style and substance.
Since its relaunch in January 2010, the magazine has earned a reputation as one of the country's most sophisticated publications-a showcase for the region's finest writers and a distinctive blend of rigorous reporting, incisive criticism and commentary, stunning photo essays, and gripping new fiction and poetry. Its commitment to great storytelling has earned it the respect of readers from around the world.
• "India's best English language magazine", The Guardian, London
• "For those with an interest in India, it has become an absolute must-read", The New Republic, Washington
The Caravan fills a niche in the Indian media that has remained vacant for far too long, catering to the intellectually curious and aesthetically refined reader, who seeks a magazine of exceptional quality.
