A popular theatre group of Malda has decided to return the grant of the state theater academy for holding a two-day drama fair in protest of the brutal rape and killing of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta on August 9.

Malda Samobeto Prayas, the well-known theatre group, has also decided to cancel the drama fair to express solidarity with people seeking justice for the victim doctor.

“We had planned to host a ‘natya mela’ (drama fair) in Malda on August 31 and September 1. For this event we received a grant of ₹50,000 from the Paschimbanga Natya Academy,” said Sharadindu Chakraborty, the president of the theatre group.

Along with the MSP, other groups from Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Ranaghat in Nadia were to stage dramas during the festival.

This was the first time that the group, formed 28 years ago, had received a grant from the government. The group spent some amount for booking a hall and paid for the conveyance of other theatre groups they had invited for the festival.

“Still, we have decided to refund the entire amount. We will bear the losses ourselves,” said Sharmishtha Das, a member of MSP.

Added Chakraborty: “The gruesome incident at RG Kar and the vehement protests across the globe made us think differently. We believe what happened in Calcutta recently is not a stray incident. Rape and oppression
against women in different parts of the country have become rampant.”

Members of the theatre group have now decided to hit the streets and be part of the protest seeking justice for the RG Kar victim.

“We have resolved to call off the proposed drama fair and hit the streets in support of the mass protest, making drama our voice,” Chakraborty said.

Many Durga Puja organisers this time have refunded the state grant of ₹85,000 offered to each by the state government in protest of the RG Kar tragedy.

An eminent educationist from north Bengal, Parimal Dey, recently announced he would return his Banga Ratna award, comprising a plaque and ₹1 lakh, to the state.