Marking India’s 77th Independence Day, DL Block’s literary wing Susomoy hosted a discussion on the role of Bengalis in our freedom movement.

Alo Basu opened the discussion with the impact of the non-cooperation movement under the leadership of Gandhi. Shelly Basu spoke on the Anushilan Samiti, a revolutionary organisation led by brothers Aurobindo Ghosh and Barin Ghosh and Sagarika Sen, an alumnus of Bethune Collegiate School, spoke on the contribution of students from her alma mater in the Bengal Renaissance and freedom movement. She mentioned Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and Pritilata Waddedar….

“Even Chandramukhi Basu and Kadambini Ganguly, the first women graduates and the first woman doctor in Asia, respectively, were alumni of this heritage institution,” Sen said, adding that this was the 175th anniversary of their school.

Sakila Khatun spoke on the uprising of farmers against indigo planters and concluded with a reference to the play Nil Darpan by Dinabandhu Mitra.

Alokananda Sengupta recalled the tribal uprising led by Birsa Munda in 1895. “Birsa Munda was arrested by British forces while he was sleeping, and though it was claimed that he died of cholera, his actual cause of death remains unknown. Similar incidents continue to occur in different forms even after over 100 years of colonial rule, which is shocking,” she said.

Ratan Saha highlighted the Dandi March and salt movement against the British for imposing a tax on salt in 1930, while Subhra Bhattacharya focused on the Sannyasi and Fakir rebellion in Bengal in the late 18th century under the leadership of Bhabani Charan Pathak.

Basudeb Dey gave a background of the Quit India movement, and the indomitable spirit of Matangini Hazra. Ajitananda Bhattacharya narrated the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and Sanhita Sengupta highlighted Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj and the Rani of Jhansi women’s regiment under it.

Joint organisers Sanhita Sengupta and Sujata Bhuti shared that 15 topics were circulated beforehand among the members to speak on. “We wanted to revisit and recapitulate the contribution and dedication of Bengalis in achieving freedom,” said the duo.

DANCE SCHOOL

It’s not everyday that one gets to watch mimicry artistes, that too at a show by an institute that teaches Bharatnatam, Rabindranritya, folk and fusion dance. But one of the most awaited items at Malhar Dance Academy’s 15th annual day was a dance tribute to the evergreen actor Dev Anand.

“Last year was Dev Anand’s birth centenary and we had taken part in, and won, a contest in his honour. The show was such a hit that we are doing it again,” said Sreetama Barik, a founder-teacher of the BD Block school.

Ajanta Dhar had a ball copying the star’s mannerisms. “I like doing mimicry of Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar…,” said the dancer who works in a Sector V IT firm. “We showed Anand’s life through his songs.”

Sixty students, including three senior citizens, performed various dances. “I began this school with four students and am proud to say that all of them are still with me. One of them, Agnayee Nandi, has moved to Hyderabad for work but takes leave and comes to town a couple of weeks before our annual day so she can dance,” said Barik, who performed a retro dance item with students.

“Since we are getting a foundation in a classical form, it’s easier for us to pick up any kind of dance now,” said Mousumi Baidya, a Class XI student of CD Block who danced to traditional pieces as well as Dev Anand hits like Hare Rama hare Krishna.

The little ones bubbled with energy too. “We attend classes regularly but shows are way more fun,” said Sumita Khara of Class V, who took part despite her ongoing school examination.

There were dance dramas too, in which the male roles were essayed by friends and relatives of dance students. “My daughters Arundhati and Arati learn dance here and invited me to play the role of lord Brahma in the Nava Durga dance drama today,” said Rajendra Prasad Mondal of CC Block, from under layers of silver hair and beard. “I have done theatre in college and enjoyed this opportunity.”

Essaying the role of Shiva in tandav was dance teacher Tanay Chowdhury. “Times are changing, and for the better,’ said Tanay. “When I was young I had to lie to my parents and go for dance classes as it wasn’t acceptable for a boy to do so. Parents would pull daughters out of dance class once they reached Class IX as it wasn’t considered decent for women to be dancing. Today many more people respect the art form.”