An Interview with Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay
Interviewer: Congratulations for the release of your book – Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyayji! What inspired you to write a book that defends capitalism in a time when it is often criticized?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Democracy is almost dying and failure throughout the globe. Communism has failed and has made an backdoor alliance with capitalism. This is the background that inspired me to revisit capitalism which, through many a form of evolutions, is still operative.
Interviewer: What are some of the good points of capitalism that you highlight in your book?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Good points of capitalism that I highlighted in my book are entrepreneurship, innovation, competition and efficiency which, in assortment, can change the people and can infuse a new spirit in society.
Interviewer: How do you respond to critics who argue that capitalism inherently leads to inequality and exploitation?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Capitalism alone should not be blamed for inequality and exploitation which exists in archaic societies too because inequality and exploitation owes more to mind-set than to any system.
Interviewer: How do you see capitalism evolving in the future, and what role do you think it will play in shaping society?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Capitalism has a bright future if the features such as entrepreneurship, innovation, competition, efficiency, freedom of choice of consumers free of all sorts of manipulation are promoted and encouraged by the leaders. Obviously, there are certain hindrances. As for example i like to state that crony capitalism is a great hindrance to pure capitalism. Cronyism encourages to be dishonest and to be seekers of easy-money. This mentality will hit entrepreneurship, innovation and competition.
Interviewer: How do you think your book can contribute to the ongoing debate about the merits and drawbacks of capitalism?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: There are surely some drawbacks of capitalism. We can see nothing in pure form and with merits only. But, since capitalism has been operating for many centuries, it cannot be rotten in full. We are to restore the best practices of capitalism and as a result of this horizontal capitalism i.e. capitalism over-all for society will evolve.
Interviewer: How has your background as a political science professor informed your perspective on capitalism?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Oh, yes. My academic background with political science has sufficiently helped me to carry out such a controversial topic. Capitalism, communism and all forms of socialism and also democracy and all types of statecraft are incorporated as basic study in political science. My next book ‘Communism Revisited’ is also the result of that background.
Interviewer: In your book “Gender Inequality, Popular Culture and Resistance in Bankura District,” you address the issue of gender inequality. How do you think capitalism can address this issue?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Engels blamed capitalism directly for gender inequality; many feminists also judged property and capitalism as the cause of inequality of genders. That is partly true. We must accept the fact that so far nowhere in the globe capitalism has been assessed with its best practices. I have repeatedly emphasized that point. It is my opinion that if horizontal capitalism (when most of the members of society will participate in capitalistic ventures) with the best practices such as entrepreneurship, innovation, competition and efficiency is motivated by the states then women will also join as entrepreneurs and will benefit from capitalism. Financial empowerment, resulting from horizontal capitalism, can eradicate gender inequality. Â
Interviewer: What advice would you give to young people who are interested in pursuing a career in political science or writing on political and social issues?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Just one sentence for them: Love political science, welcome all positive political and social changes and fight for them through writing, speech and activities.
Interviewer: What are some of the key takeaways that you hope readers will gain from your book “Everything with Capitalism is not bad”?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Only one sentence for the readers: THIS BOOK ‘EVERYTHING WITH CAPITALISM IS NOT BAD’ CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AS WELL AS YOUR LIFE!
Interviewer: Are you on social media? How can our readers reach you?
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: What’s app and email.
Interviewer: Thanks for your time! It was a pleasure talking to you about your book. I wish you best of luck for the future!
Sujit Kumar Chattopadhyay: Thank you so much.
Also from author: Democracy Revisited
