The idea behind the car factory in Singur was one of using market principles of growth to transform a predominantly agrarian society. This idea, envisaged by the state government, failed because it did not take into account the important aspect of the value of land to peasants and the dignity it accorded to them.

This paper aims to shed light on the hitherto neglected issue of land in development. It examines the process of land market development in the former Punjab from when private ownership of land was established in mid-19th century, up to the present. It is found that as against the assumption of the classical rent theory, the price of land has been increasing much faster than rent.

Launched in 1998, the Golden Quadrilateral is part of a $30-billion plus National Highways Development Project-the most ambitious building spree here since Britain created the railway system in the 1800s. Much as the U.S. Interstate Highway System mobilized American society, India hopes the Golden Quadrilateral will push the country's economic engine into overdrive.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front government
in West Bengal had handled the acquisition of land from the peasants for the Nano car project of Tata Motors at Singur in a hopelessly insensitive manner. The Trinamool Congress, the main opposition party, has ever since tried to gain all it can from this failing of the communists. The CPI(M), in its anxiety to pursue industrialisation at all costs, should have known better than to be more concerned about the incentives for private industry than about livelihoods and asset security for the local populace. (Editorial)