White Sahibs, Brown Sahibs: An Insider’s Account of the Statesman (Paperback-2024)

About the Book: Does the slow decay of a stalwart publication reveal harsh truths about the state of modern journalism?

White Sahibs, Brown Sahibs: An Insider’s Account of The Statesman chronicles the brand of investigative journalism pioneered by The Statesman under British and Indian editors since its founding in 1875. The paper was the first to break revealing stories, including the Bengal famine of 1943 and attracted Indian audiences through its fearless journalism ever since its inception. In its halcyon days, it set a precedent for honest and objective journalism. However, over the years, the newspaper has lost its sheen. The book depicts how The Statesman reflected the zeitgeist of Bengal and India from the British Raj to the present. It relies on primary data, authentic documents and real accounts of those connected to the paper in any capacity to tell a known but untold story. As the fourth pillar of democracy continues to encounter doubts about their neutrality and ability to bring truth to the fore, the book guides the audience in asking the right questions.

About the Author: Uday Basu is a veteran journalist known for his extensive four-decade-long career at The Statesman, which established him as a prominent figure in Kolkata's political and media circles. He completed his Bachelor's in English (Honours) from Calcutta University and went on to secure a diploma in French from Alliance Francaise, Kolkata during his working years. He joined The Statesman in 1979 as a reporter and held multiple roles in the Editorial Department, including Chief Reporter, Political Reporter (Special Representative), Chief of News, Coordinating Editor and Consulting Editor. He is known for his Op-eds in The Statesman, which garnered a wide readership. He is also the Chairman of the US-based International Association of Religion Journalists (IARJ), which has over 900 journalists across five continents. His other publications include several articles, editorials and the book Left Out in Bengal (2012). Currently, he is associated with Orissa Post and continues to write editorials.