Kolkata’s Boi Mela is a symbol not just for new ideals, but also for preserving and sustaining our heritage. It was hence fitting that the closing event of the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair 2023 raised awareness of our rich heritage. On February 12, Living Waters Museum in association with the US Consulate, Kolkata organised US-India Together: Better for the Planet, an initiative which saw students from across the city express themselves on climate change.
The closing event of the Book Fair was an extension of The Living Waters Museum project titled Climate Wall, which looks at youth engagement and creative advocacy in climate action, with focus on the Sunderbans.
US consul general in Kolkata Melinda Pavek and American Center deputy director Juan Clar took part in a dialogue with the students on making climate action a democratic movement and the role of youth in a global collaboration.
The event concluded with a storytelling session titled Aab Ka Khwaab, in association with East India Dastangos, led by Palash Chaturvedi and Zahid Hussain alongside students of Calcutta International School and three young climate champions Izaara Kaushik, Isa Iftekher and Shehrezad Iftekher. The children read out letters written by rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati who converse among themselves about their current conditions.
(Left) Students of BDM International performed a dance showcasing the Sunderbans and its contribution during natural disasters. (right) Students of Modern High School International made a painting highlighting the missing links in climate action through jigsaw puzzles.
Thirty-seven students from prominent city schools like BDM International, Modern High School for Girls, Modern High School International, Calcutta International School and Bidya Bharati Girls’ High School put up a range of performances across art forms, including dance, music, street play, and live painting.
Students of Modern High School for Girls paid homage to river Ganga with a dance performance, urging people not to pollute it
“The future of our country is most vulnerable to hazards induced by climate change. It is crucial to invest in the youth and build capacity within them to love and respect our environment. Conversations around climate change have been restricted to a very scientific community and there is an immediate need to make it a more democratic process using creative arts as a tool,” said Sukrit Sen, art and outreach coordinator; Project Lead - Kolkata Chapter, Living Waters Museum.
