Population, Economy and Society in West Bengal since the 1970s.

West Bengal, a major state of eastern India, is conspicuous not only for being ruled by an elected Leftist coalition since 1977 (often described as sound 'political stability'), but also for its widely acknowledged successes in fertility transition, execution of redistributive land reform and political decentralisation programmes. Ironically, however, the state, in almost all comparative assessments of social, human and infrastructural developments occupies a lagged position vis-à-vis many other staes, especially in the south and even against all-India records. This paper seeks to examine this paradox by comprehensively evaluating West Bengal's relative performance in demographic and socio-economic transformations. A well-disciplined greassroots political mobilisation nertwork, and the machinery of the Left Front parties, have been highly instrumental for compratively fast declines of fertility and population growth and population growth and for lasting political stability in an otherwie 'Laggard' development regime. However, a government geared to ensuring mass electoral suypport overwhelmingly via a grassroots mobilisation network but, with a relative neglect of social movements, economic infrastructure and human development, is likely to suffer adverse consequences in the longer term.