Stories written by

Brian A Hatcher

Bengali reformer’s tract against polygamy among upper castes holds lessons on legal pluralism

In ‘Against High-Caste Polygamy’, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar seeks reform within while endorsing the vision of respect for religious diversity.

Brian A Hatcher
· Aug 11, 2023 · 09:00 am
Why did Modi say that India’s road to progress has always been led by Bengal – and not Gujarat?

How might our understanding of religious modernity change once we realise that Rammohan Roy and founder of the Swaminarayan sect were near contemporaries?

Brian A Hatcher
· Oct 29, 2020 · 11:30 am
On Vidyasagar’s 200th birth anniversary, how do we recall the mass of contradictions that made him?

We need to interrogate the lives of people like Vidyasagar – and Vivekananda – for what they say about the structures out of which our present has taken shape.

Brian A Hatcher
· Sep 27, 2020 · 05:30 pm

Missing Vidyasagar again: The 19th-century reformer deserves better than brickbats and hollow praise

We must take the time to learn more about the influential – if complicated – figure.

Brian A Hatcher
· May 18, 2019 · 08:00 am