There are two Kolkatas current parallel to one another, this Durga Puja. One, which resides upto its city-in-celebration picture. On this world, there are hundreds queuing up to take a look at pandal recreations of underwater metro, Tirupati temple and Las Vegas sphere. The whistles of the visitors volunteers is the fixed background rating and the air is heavy with the odor of egg rolls and barbecue. After which, there’s the opposite Kolkata, characterised by the settled anger of protesting docs in Dharmatalla, the nerve centre of the town. A Kolkata of torch rallies, RG Kar slogans and barricades.
At instances, the 2 Kolkatas collide. Just like the incident the place 9 youths have been arrested for, “We wish justice” slogans concerning the RG Kar rape-murder incident exterior a Durga Puja pandals. Or the pandal in central Kolkata, which had the RG Kar incident as its theme (the idols have been hiding their faces in disgrace). These are disconcerting moments
It is a puja on-line which some other, most Kolkata residents will attest. Within the month after the horrific RG Kar rape and homicide incident, the concept of any form of celebration appeared far-fetched for a lot of. Kolkata had become a metropolis of barricades then. There have been midnight rallies on daily basis, the often buzzing buying districts have been like ghost cities and utsobe-phirbo-na (we won’t return to festivities) was a slogan on each lip. For that’s the greatest ask from a median Kolkatan, to not partake within the festivities that appear to now outline Kolkata for many outsiders (like rosogolla and the town’s poor work tradition). It was a solemn promise that we appeared to have made to ourselves. To not give up to the festivities. A defiant stand in opposition to CM Mamata Banerjee’s mild chiding after weeks of protests. “Utsobe Phire Ashun (return to festivities)!”she had acknowledged at a public assembly.
However can you actually preserve Bengalis away from Pujo? The temptation is overwhelming. Only one new kurta, only one chunk of rooster roll, simply that one pandal to take a look at, and earlier than you understand, it’s a spiral. You might be pulling an all-nighter, sampling pujo buffets and curating your Sashti, Saptami seems. It’s really easy to offer in.
I did. After a night of pandal hopping in my jamdani kurta (the place I marvelled at a pandal made from jamdani sarees), I bought a name from one other journalist pal. “Aren’t you going to the physician’s protest web site?’, she requested. “I’ve already been there”, I lied. I felt oddly responsible for no logical purpose in any respect. I made a decision to make amends and go to the opposite Kolkata. Dharmatala, the place the junior docs are staging a fast-unto-death protest, demanding justice for the rape sufferer. Lately, one of many fasting docs needed to be hospitalised as a result of his kidney has been affected by greater than 90 hours of fasting. The gang of atypical residents right here isn’t any completely different from these at a pandal actually. However the temper is distinctly completely different. It’s simple to slide into righteous indignation right here. Like 76-year-old Biswanath Bhattacharya, who has been visiting the positioning for the previous two days. “Pujas will come and go, we have to stand for our rights. How can individuals rejoice Durga Puja now?” He asks. Responsible.
premankur.biswas@indianexpress.com
