Sumit Chakravartty: The gentle editor, unwavering in his commitments and ideals

By Bharat Dogra 

The rare combination of profound politeness and friendliness with an iron-clad commitment to ideals like secularism, inter-faith harmony, socialism, and democracy is truly exceptional. When such a blend emerges in a personality, that individual becomes a rare gem, whose friendship is to be cherished. I will always remember Sumit Chakravartty as precisely such a friend and a personality worthy of immense love and respect.

Sumit breathed his last on July 26 in Kolkata at the age of 80. He is survived by his wife, Gargi, an eminent historian and left activist, and his son, Sagnik, an editor.

His extraordinary gentleness and friendliness were entirely authentic, never artificial or contrived. Whenever I spoke with him, I felt his deep sincerity and genuine care. As one of the most regular contributors to "Mainstream," the esteemed weekly journal he edited, we often spoke by phone and met occasionally. I cannot recall a single instance when our conversation wasn't pleasant or constructive, despite often discussing serious and challenging issues. I also cannot remember ever disagreeing with him. His profound concern for fundamental issues was as sincere as the gentleness of his personality and his regard for his friends.

On one occasion, when an anniversary or special event related to Mainstream was being planned, Sumit mentioned he would contact as many old contributors and associates as possible. I assumed this meant he'd send letters or make phone calls to arrange a meeting. Later, however, I discovered he was personally visiting many of them, painstakingly tracking down their current addresses.

I cherish the fact that I've had the opportunity to meet all the editors of Mainstream and contribute articles to the journal under each of them, starting around 1977 and continuing to the present day.

I met Mainstream's founder, the legendary editor Nikhil Chakravartty, when I was 20. Despite my lack of experience, Nikhil was incredibly welcoming and encouraging, thus beginning my journey with Mainstream, which continues today. While I am grateful to all the journal's editors for the freedom they provided me in my writing, my relationship with Sumit was especially unique. Over our long association, I don't recall a single instance of disagreement. Due to his editorial responsibilities, he had limited travel opportunities, so he eagerly awaited my updates whenever I returned after covering social movements.

We shared a mutual admiration for significant social movements, and I was confident that my writings on them would find an assured and early publication spot in Mainstream. At that time, I also wrote for many of the biggest newspapers, but I knew that even if they didn't publish my pieces on these social movements, Mainstream certainly would.

On a broader level, this highlights the special importance of alternative media. Sumit carried this torch with great responsibility during a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult to do so.

A key reason he could sustain this effort was the unwavering support from his family. His wife, Gargi Chakravartty, a prominent academic and historian, has been actively involved in the left women’s movement while also finding time to be incredibly helpful in strengthening Mainstream.

Sumit will, of course, be remembered for his immense contributions to Indian journalism in particular and to justice-based democracy more broadly. However, beyond that, he will always be remembered by countless people as an incredibly gentle and caring human being and a friend who can never be forgotten.

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The writer is an independent journalist and author who has been writing for over five decades, with a strong perspective on peace, justice, and environmental protection