Gulabi Gang

• Mrinalini from the short story Streer Patra, Nandini from the play Raktakarabi, Chitrangada from the dance drama Chitrangada, Prakriti from the dance drama Chandalika, Lalita from the novel Gora and Ela from the novel Char Adhyay… Six prominent characters created by Rabindranath Tagore, all of them emancipated women, were brought to life on a virtual stage in course of a tribute to the Bard on his 160th birth anniversary. The organiser was Gulabi Gang, a DB Block-based women’s group.

In the concluding part of the group’s online Rabindra Jayanti programme, titled Sradhhay Smaroney Rabindranath, the characters delivered their own introductions, through lines penned by director Sonali Basak which showcased them as the figures of protest against discrimination based on caste, creed or gender as Tagore had portrayed them to be.

Thus Nandini, played by the evening’s compere Mahua De Sarkar, announced: “My creator brought me to this suffocating Yakshapuri where I find everyone is scared of the king. But why fear a figure who does not have an entity? Ranjan has taught me to be fearless. He calls me Raktakarabi.”

Earlier, Abanti Dasgupta, a Class XI student, commenced the show with a message of hope. “This day is so special to all of us that even such a pandemic could not stop us from celebrating the occasion. Tagore generates the strength to fight against any untoward situation,” she said, quoting the song Ami bhoy korbo na.

“When we are performing online even from different locations, it generates a feeling of togetherness,” added Abanti, as her mother Sudhanya took over with a welcome dance to the song Sabare kori ahwan.

Some members logged in from out of town. Lakshmimoni Sen recounted an anecdote, all the way from Bangalore, involving Tagore and Saratchandra Chattopadhyay, who used to visit him often. “When I was a student in Santiniketan, we heard these stories from hostel mates. In this present situation, these stories can lighten our hearts for some moments,” she said.

Indrani Basak from Gurgaon spoke of Tagore’s positive thinking, citing how during an outbreak of dengue in his boyhood he found even the taste of stale luchi and gur to be like nectar. This ability stayed with him even in adult life. During a train journey after the death of his son Shamindranath, he composed the song Aj jyotsna ratey sabai gyachhe boney.

Kamalika Banerjee, a dancer from Delhi, presented scenes from Chandalika on a makeshift stage created in her apartment. “The situation is so bad here that it seems I am seated amid flames. Most people are Covid positive in our building but I get strength in Tagore’s name,” she said, adding that she was performing a segment featuring Chandalika and her mother Prakriti as Tagore’s birthday was coinciding with Mother’s Day. “It took considerable time to prepare this set inside my apartment but I felt it would give me a feel of a stage performance, which we are missing now,” chuckled Kamalika, the dancer.

Little Sharonya Mitra, a disciple of Mamata Shankar, presented an energetic dance recital to Darun agni bane re.

Sarmistha Mukherjee, a social activist who heads the Salt Lake chapter of Human Rights Information Development, participated while being in home isolation. After her tribute with the song Tumi robey nirobe, she added: “I really forgot that I was suffering from Covid. Music is a therapy,” she said.

Rama Mitra, who played Mrinalini in the concluding segment, gave vent to an emotion felt by many of her fellow participants after the programme. “Programme ta kore jyano pran phire pelam,” smiled Mitra.

Bharati Kanjilal

SOS Children’s Village

• Kids, mothers and members of SOS Children’s Village celebrated Rabindrajayanti online this year. The village is part of an international organisation for orphaned and neglected children with their West Bengal branch being situated in BK Block. The kids live in different “homes” on campus and are looked after by employees who take up the roles of “mothers”.

The mothers, in fact, began the ceremony with a chorus of Esho hey Baisakh, followed by Antar mamo bikoshito karo. They had gathered together while children joined from their respective homes and performed in a section titled Amra shobai raja.

Sagar Kumar recited poem Noukajatra, Ajay Das recited Chhutir Din from Tagore’s Shishu while Rudra Pandey delivered a speech about the bard’s life and works. Debarpan Chakraborti surprised everyone with his rendition of Dekhechhi rupsagare on the guitar. “I have been learning how to play the guitar for five years now and I enjoy playing different songs. For today, I learnt a Rabindrasangeet and this was a good experience too,” said the Class VIII student. Deepika Prasad usually dances at such events but this time sang — Tomar khola hawa — instead. Nutan Arya recited from Geetanjali and Ankit Roy ended the show reciting Kumor parar gorur gari.

The children were congratulated and encouraged by secretary of the centre, Sonali Das. “It is a wonderful effort by everyone and we got to see a different side to our students. Even though we had to celebrate online this year, I feel we are on the right track,” said Das, herself an FD Block resident.

Shatadipa Bhattacharya

New Town CD Block

Two of the participants in the programme organised by CD Block

• Last year, they had celebrated Rabindra Jayanti on a makeshift stage on their rooftop. But this year, they retreated indoors and chose the safety of a virtual show.

The New Town CD Block Residents Forum hosted an online cultural programme, marking Tagore’s birth anniversary. “The surge of the pandemic was not so virulent then but this year, the condition has deteriorated,” said Sithi Kana Ghatak, the block’s cultural convenor.

Ghatak herself initiated proceedings with the song Ki gabo ami ki sonabo. Debi Dutta recited Tagore’s poem Prarthana while Sumi Roy recited Kripan and Premendra Mitra’s poem on Pochishey Baishakh. “Both poems are relevant for today’s occasion. Mitra’s poem underlines our sentiments about Tagore while Kripan has a message to dedicate oneself for the cause, which serves as a clarion call in the present scenario,” said Roy, an IT professional.

Eight-year-old Rashi Ghosh was surprised when applause and appreciation poured in from several neighbours to her mother’s cell phone soon after her performance was over. “She had danced to Ora awkarone chanchal in her room without any audience in front. So she was astonished to hear how so many people watched her perform through a small device. She has no clear concept about online performances,” chuckled her mother Deepsikha, who sang Chokher aloy dekhechhilem herself.

Purba Kar, who compered the programme, read out an extract from Rabijiboni by Prashanta Kumar Chattopadhyay, on Tagore’s first love — a Marathi girl named Anna Turkhad. At the age of 17, Tagore was sent to Bombay to train in spoken English from her. He named her Nalini.”

Chandrani Sanyal sang Amar praner pore chole gelo ke. “In this phase, online platform has become an effective mode of communication, closely knitting us with each other. When we see others perform on the platform, especially the elderly members of the block, it automatically enhances our self-confidence and inspires us to fight against all odds,” she said.

The programme concluded with a self-composed poem, titled Santiniketan, by Kar.

Bharati Kanjilal