I grew up in small towns in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra - places like Akola, Betul, Wardha, Jhansi; I thought the rise of provincial India would be an interesting subject to tackle. Pankaj Mishra akolabetulgrow Change image and share on social
The Korean War, which China entered on the side of North Korea, fixed Mao's image in the United States as another unappeasable Communist. Pankaj Mishra chinacommunistenter Change image and share on social
Economic disasters or foolish wars are hardly guaranteed to bring about large-scale individual self-examination or renew the appeal of truly participatory democracy. Pankaj Mishra appealbringdemocracy Change image and share on social
Obama was expected to restore an ethical sheen to post-9/11 foreign policy, but he has intensified drone warfare in Yemen and Pakistan, pursued whistle-blowers, and failed to close down Guantanamo. Pankaj Mishra blowerclosedrone Change image and share on social
German writers in the late 18th century were the first to uphold a prickly, literary nationalism, in reaction to the then dominance and prestige of French literature. Pankaj Mishra 18thcenturydominance Change image and share on social
Though blessed with many able administrators, the British found India just too large and diverse to handle. Many of their decisions stoked Hindu-Muslim tensions, imposing sharp new religious-political identities on Indians. Pankaj Mishra administratorblessbritish share on social
Political elites look increasingly interchangeable: Blair, Brown, and Cameron have all tried to provide cover for the surrender of sovereignty to foreign investors with invocations of 'British' values, and, more opportunistically, anti-immigrant rhetoric. Pankaj Mishra antiblairbritish share on social
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 briefly disrupted celebrations of a world globalised by capital and consumption. Pankaj Mishra attackbrieflycapital Change image and share on social
Local markets for literary fiction remain underdeveloped; the metropolis often holds out the only real possibility of a professional writing career. Pankaj Mishra careerfictionhold Change image and share on social
Ineptitude and negligence directed British policies in India more than any cynical desire to divide and rule, but the British were not above exploiting rivalries. Pankaj Mishra britishcynicaldesire Change image and share on social
