Kolkata has geared up for the upcoming Durga Pujas. One of the biggest festivals of the state, spirituality and religiousness have taken centre stage in many Durga Pujas, as per several reports. But is the celebrations subdued in the city following the gruesome rape-murder of a postgraduate doctor at the city’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital? We at Zoom reached out to noted Bengali Actor Abir Chatterjee for his insights into how Durga Puja is being celebrated in the city today.
Excerpts from the interview: Are the Puja celebrations affected by the gruesome murder of the Kolkata doctor? No one asked to Boycott the puja. Anyway the mood to celebrate the puja is low key. Life never stops.
So the show must go on? We need to keep working and along with that we need to continue our way of protest and express our opinions openly. So that it doesn't remain a temporary phase. The much required rectification should come from every sphere of our society.
So are the Puja festivities grim this time? To know what it is really like one has to come to Kolkata. It seems grim from outside. Yes, people have their grievances.
But it is Durga pujo. So the spirit will always be high. It is not just the celebration.
It’s about togetherness. It is about getting much required energy and power to fight our respective battles, personally and collectively, throughout the year. Do you think the Hema Committee report would have ramifications in the Bengali film industry? It is a long long journey.
