Three former Visva-Bharati students from Calcutta and the US have started a stall at this year’s Poush Mela for former students to sit, sing, chat, release books and display their artwork.

Koushik Mukherjee, who owns an IT firm in Calcutta, Nivedita Basu, a Chicago-based designer, and Barsanjit Mazumder, a Cleveland State University professor, took the initiative to start the stall, named “Santiniketaner Praktani”.

The organisers have arranged for free tea, snacks and lunch for former students visiting the fair.

“Thousands of Visva-Bharati students are spread across the world. But we found there is no corner at Poush Mela where ex-students can come without hesitation and spend their time,” Mukherjee said.

“This year we have started the stall on a small scale. But we will expand it from next year.”

Mukherjee said this year the three of them had contributed Rs 2 lakh for food and snacks for the former students. “We will plan about next year’s funds later.”

Several former students who are now senior artists and teachers at Kala Bhavana have already sent their artwork to the stall for display and sale.

“We will sell them and deposit the money to the welfare fund of Kala Bhavana,” Mukherjee said.

A book, Sei Santiniketan — Aamar Ghar Basat, by Shyamasree Banerjee, former student and niece of singer Kanika Bandopadhyay, was released at the stall on Sunday.

“It is a good initiative by three former students... they are trying to give a space to at the Poush Mela. My book was released at the stall,” Banerjee said.

“It is true that there is no dedicated place for old students. Next year, I hope the stall will be bigger.”

Goutam Das, former student and principal of Kala Bhavana whose five drawings are on display at the stall, said: “It is a really nice initiative by the former students. I have given five of my paintings.’

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