Like others in our city, members of Abhog Bidhannagar expressed their demand for justice following the RG Kar incident. But instead of chanting “We want justice,” on the streets, they sang it, at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan last week.

“We had booked the hall for this event three months back and had been rehearsing all throughout. When the RG Kar incident shook the city, we initially felt that a musical performance might be inappropriate,” said Saswati Adhikary, secretary of the AC Block-based cultural group.

But then the set they were preparing was on Tagore’s swadesh chetana (nationalistic songs). “We realised Tagore’s lyrics extend beyond protests against British rule; they speak against injustice in all forms. His words are as relevant and powerful in today’s context,” added another member Moniratna Roy.

With renewed purpose, the group channelled their anger over the RG Kar tragedy into their music. They wore black badges with their crisp red-and-white saris and kurtas as a sign of protest too.

It was tough to believe that the mellifluous voices that sang Mile sabe Bharat santan and Anandadhwani jagao gagane had been shouting for justice at protest marches. Saswati herself had participated in a midnight march, returning at 4am on the day of the show. “I’m not even thinking about fatigue at a time like this,” she said.

Besides chorus numbers, there were solos like Tomari tare Ma sanpinu by Gautam Kar and Amay bolo na gahite by Lopamudra De, all led by Debjani Sarkar on harmonium, who also directed the show. “We are a professional group, trained and groomed by the late Kanchan Baran Adhikary, who passed away during the pandemic,” Debjani said.

“Today, in fact, marks our 25th anniversary, but we didn’t acknowledge this on stage as no one feels celebratory right now,” Saswati, widow of Kanchan, reflected. “This show was my husband’s vision. He had planned every detail, from song selection to assigning the solos, and saved it on his laptop. He is not here to see it, but we know he would have supported using this platform to protest.”

The audience appreciated the effort. “Protest is a pillar of democracy, and music is a powerful tool. Just look at how Arijit Singh’s Ar kobe has moved the masses over the RG Kar incident,” said Dr Abhijit Sarkar, a paediatrician, in the audience. “This is the first live music performance I’m attending addressing the incident, and Tagore’s lyrics fit seamlessly.”

Despite the success of the show, Abhog is hesitant to take bookings to perform during Durga Puja. “My students have been asking me to select songs for protest marches, and I’m suggesting Rabindrsangeet like Byartho praner aborjona and Bidhir badhon katbe tumi, which we also sang today,” said Debjani. “But like the rest of the city, our members are not in the mood for Puja festivities this year, and we’ve been declining offers for now.”