A Sudden Golden Smile: A Journey Through Courage and Conscience

“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed.- George Orwell

This quote perfectly captures the spirit of Amit Sengupta’s book “A Sudden Golden Smile“. It is a powerful collection of 55 essays that speak boldly for the oppressed and against the powerful. The book brings together essays that touch upon events from Gaza to the realities of Gond and Tharu Adivasis, violence in Manipur and struggles of contemporary India.

From the very first essay, “As Morning Smiles on Mountains,” Sengupta proves himself to be a writer who can uncover profound human emotions in the simplest of moments. He contrasts the suffocating smog of Delhi with the healing nature of a Himalayan village. Through gentle yet forceful descriptions,  he shows that nature is not just scenery but a refuge for wounded minds and hurt souls.  This opening piece sets the tone for the entire book. It captures a search for places where life feels easy, pure and meaningful.

He then shifts to the global stage through essays on Gaza. In the essay “Israel Has Killed All Life in Gaza,” Sengupta writes fearlessly about the systematic violence and genocide faced by Palestinians. He exposes the brutal killing of children, doctors, journalists and innocent families. He refuses neutral language rather he calls it what it truly is; ethnic cleansing. In the next essay, “Warsaw Jewish Ghetto: A Mirror Image of Gaza,” he draws a disturbing historical parallel. The Jewish people who once suffered under Nazi rule and The Holocaust, now impose a similar oppression on Palestinians.  Israel, he argues, has pushed them into what he calls an “open-air prison.” For Sengupta, silence in the face of genocide is complicity.

From the struggles of Palestine, Sengupta moves to another neglected tragedy. In the essay “The Pain and Anger of Manipur”, he writes about the violence in Manipur with deep frustration at the way India remains silent about the Northeast. While the region burns in conflict and people are displaced, mainstream media and political leaders choose to ignore it and look away. He reminds  readers that the idea of a united India becomes hollow if parts of the nation are abandoned in their darkest moments.

Another section of the book focuses on the lives of Gond and Tharu Adivasi communities. Sengupta clearly documents their struggles  against the state and corporations that that attempt to seize forests and land. He shows how they are displaced and oppressed in the name of “development.” At the same time, he celebrates Adivasi knowledge, their care for nature and and their steadfast defence of what rightfully belongs to them. Through sharp criticism, he shows how democracy fails when it silences the voices of the most vulnerable people.

As the book progresses, Sengupta’s criticism of fascist and authoritarian politics in India grows sharper. He writes about the silencing of journalists, the use of religion as a political weapon, and the weakening of democratic values.

One of the most striking essays towards the end of the book is “Against the Stalinism of Ideologies.” Here, Sengupta criticises totalitarian tendencies that often hides behind the label of communism. He argues that true communism must rest on equality, freedom and people’s rights and needs. When ideology becomes unquestionable and rigid, it turns into  another type of dictatorship as it loses its humanity. Sengupta supports progressive ideals but refuses to endorse any ideology that crushes dissent. His argument reveals a deep, principled understanding of politics.

The final two essays, “The Anthem on the Terrace” and “A Smile on Her Face,” close the book on a gentle, reflective note. In the first, Sengupta examines how the meaning of patriotism has changed in India. He observes how the patriotism he knew as a child has changed over time. When he was a child, patriotism felt as a pure emotion that filled with innocence, hope, unity and the excitement of Independence Day celebrations. But now, everything has been changed and patriotism is being controlled by aggressive nationalism and love for the country is marked by hatred towards others, especially minorities. The simple joy of singing the national anthem from rooftops has been overshadowed by fear and noise. This shift in the concept of patriotism hurts him, thus his writing reveals a deep longing and need for the innocence India once had. In the last essay, he portrays a woman with a smile on her face that endures despite the hardships and struggles of life. It is a quiet form of resistance against the conflicts among people and also tell us that kindness and hope can still rise above hatred and oppression.

“A Sudden Golden Smile” is not merely a collection of essays;  it is a journey through injustice, memory, culture, and courage. Sengupta stands strong with victims of violence and dictatorship, whether in Gaza, Manipur, forests, cities, or forgotten corners of the world. His writing reminds us that silence never can be an option when humanity is under attack.

The book emerges as a powerful statement that good journalism must disturb comfort, challenge power and protect the voiceless and their truth. Through each essay in this book, Sengupta reminds us that even in the darkest times, there will always be someone who dares to write, someone who dares to care and someone who dares to smile. That sudden golden smile is what keeps hope alive.