Mungpoo, May 8.TT: Rabindra Jayanti celebration at Mungpoo today turned into a damp squib with the absence of the local people from the event, though the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had announced earlier that it would not boycott the programme to commemorate the bard’s birth anniversary.
The Morcha had said on Sunday that even though it would stick to its decision of boycotting all state government programmes in the Darjeeling hills until permission was given to the party to organise public meetings in the Dooars, it would make an exception for Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday celebration.
However, apart from Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, no Morcha leader or supporters were seen at the Labour Centre, where the cultural programme was held. Sharma, the local MLA, landed up almost two hours late.
In fact, there were no artistes from the hills to perform at the event. While artistes from Siliguri and Calcutta performed Rabindra Sangeet, dancers were brought in from the Nrityanan Dance School in Siliguri.
North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb, who was present at the celebration, refused to be drawn into any controversy.
“I just spoke to Dr. Rohit Sharma and he is on his way to Mungpoo. Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri (Kalimpong MLA) is attending a programme (on the poet’s birth anniversary) in the Assembly, while Trilok Dewan (Darjeeling MLA) is in Bangalore for treatment. I cannot comment on individuals as it is up to them to decide whether to attend the event or not,” the minister said before the start of the celebration.
The celebration kicked off around 11.15am and only about 150 people were present. The audience largely comprised government officials, family members of the artistes, media representatives and security personnel.
Sharma reached the venue around 1pm and apologised for the late arrival.
“We do not want to politicise such an important event. I wanted to be here and that is why I left Calcutta yesterday. I apologise for the delay and also for not being able to welcome the minister (Deb) when he is in my constituency,” said Sharma.
Perhaps taken aback by the low attendance, the MLA said: “It is very sad that the attendance is very low today. The organisers should have invited writers, poets and other eminent people to the event today.”
The celebration was organised by the state’s information and cultural affairs department. The organisers said they had not planned the event on a large scale because of the Morcha’s boycott call.
“Since the Morcha had called for the boycott of government programmes, very few people were willing to be associated with the bard’s birthday celebration. That is why we decided to organise a low key event today. Even invitation cards were not printed. We came to know that the Morcha was not boycotting this event just a couple of days back,” said a district official.
Once the Morcha announced relief for the Mungpoo celebration, there was hardly any time left for the government to arrange a grand programme. The invitations were sent only to three MLAs in the hills and the chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Darjeeling municipality.
Local Morcha leaders said they didn’t attend the event since they had not been officially invited. As the Morcha leaders were keeping away from the event, most of the local people seemed to be hesitant to be present.
While addressing the audience, Deb said the district information and cultural affairs officer’s office had prepared an estimate of Rs 14 lakh to do up the Rabindra Bhavan, which also houses a museum, at Mungpoo.
“We are also trying to get in touch with the owner of Gauripur house in Kalimpong (where the bard had recited the poem Janmo Din for the first time for All India Radio) to renovate the place,” said Deb.
Sources said a seniors official had also asked for a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to develop the Rabindra Bhavan under the Scheme for Tagore Cultural Complexes. The state government has already announced Rs 4 crore for setting up an international research centre at Mungpoo.
Tagore had visited Mungpoo four times between 1938 and 1940 because of his love for the place and special bond with Maitreyi Devi, daughter of his friend. She was married to the then director of cinchona plantation, Manmohan Sen.
Devi had also published a book Mungpoote Rabindranath containing an account of his stay in Mungpoo. Later, she established Rabindra Smriti at the director’s bungalow in 1944 to preserve the poet’s memories. The minister also appealed for unity among the plains and the hills.
Post a Comment