Protests For Justice Eclipse Durga Puja Celebrations In Kolkata

The junior doctors of several public hospitals in Kolkata have made history by eclipsing the grand celebration of the Durga Puja. There are many more crowds from different classes of mass walking in processions and creating human chains from different parts of society than there are in the Durga Puja pandals spread around the city.

This is the first time in the history of Durga Pooja since the Independence in India when the festivities, the crowds, the music, the colours, the noise, the drum beats, the teaming crowds dressed in their best were either by force due to circumstances beyond control, or by choice, decided to play second fiddle to the dharnas ongoing since the 14th of August this year following the brutal rape and murder of the Kolkata post-graduate medical student on August 9, within the very hospital she was on night duty for 36 hours at a stretch.

The junior doctors from the government hospitals across the state have also joined in, demanding the elimination of the “threat culture”.

The “threat culture” is quite scary – asking for money for leaking question papers; asking for money to allow the students to pass, even if they are brilliant students; refusing to give them registration certificates or cancelling registration certificates of those who already have them without largesse; placing post-graduate medical students under tremendous mental and physical stress by pressuring them with unstinted night duty of 36 hours; all ways and means to make the doctors toe the line.

The junior doctor who was raped and murdered is said to have been one who refused to bend, threatened to reveal the rampant corruption within the RG Kar Hospital and was “punished” for her revolt. But all this is subject to proof and evidence, but it is a perception that has gained ground in the current circumstances.

The CM and the Ruling Party, have tried every rule not in the book to block the mass movement but were unable to do so. And it completely overshadowed the much-touted Durga Carnival because of the support for the doctors amongst the people.

Bengali news channels show you the crowds, hear their slogans, listen to their songs, watch their dances, look at the artwork filling the main roads to witness perhaps the biggest people's entirely non-political movement following the independence of India. There are now support groups in Delhi, Canada, Australia and the UK. People are not allowed to air their political affiliations with party flags or other symbols.The movement is also completely secular in character and spirit, free of any status, casteist, communal, religious, political or gender discrimination.

The PM and her cronies tried to bring a halt to the Droha Carnival that was held on 15 October claiming that the protest was unnecessarily interrupting the “official” Durga Carnival with 89 prize winning idols. The Kolkata Police had implemented Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in nine key areas of the city, starting from 15 October. In its official statement, the Kolkata Police said, "It is necessary for preventing danger, obstruction or inconvenience to the public in connection with the 'Immersion Carnival' on Red Road, Kolkata on October 15." The Kolkata Police not only barred the pavements with barricades and iron fences but also destroyed the shops set up by the pavement hawkers across the nine areas.

However, in response to a prayer by junior doctors challenging the imposition of the prohibitory order, Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur set aside the restrictions imposed by the state government and allowed the Droha Carnival to go on alongside from a different point though, so that the two would not clash.

In his order, Justice Kapur wrote, “The impugned order severely restricts and reflects an unfettered exercise of discretion which opens the doors to arbitrariness and is an antithesis to the Rule of Law. The width of prohibition contained in the impugned order is disproportionate, excessive and unreasonable. Such restrictions on fundamental rights cannot possibly achieve any bonafide purpose..”

The police started removing roadblocks and iron guard rails around Rani Rashmoni Avenue, where the protesters were seen gathering in huge numbers. The order further added, “The State respondents are directed to put barricades and/or guardrails between Rani Avenue and Red Road to ensure that no breach of peace occurs. The police shall also make necessary arrangements for security with a required number of police personnel so as to ensure that there is no breach of peace at the proposed “Droher Carnival”. The organizers of the rally are also requested to have a sufficient number of volunteers to ensure that no breach of peace occurs.”

The West Bengal government had faced a similar setback in the courtroom after the Calcutta High Court released nine people on bail after they were arrested right inside a famous Durga Pooja pandal organised by a TMC superior for raising 'We Want Justice' slogans without disturbing the peace. Organisers of the Pujas were worried about law and order being threatened by the massive crowds and had barricades constructed to bar the entry of the protestors who however, refused to bend under pressure and did not disturb the pandals at all apart from continuing to raise slogans and sing beautiful songs of revolt.

A group of around nine doctors began a fast-unto-death on a platform in Dharmatala. On Friday, October 9, the doctors initiated a sit-in protest at Dorina Crossing in Kolkata's Dharmatala, giving the Bengal government a 24-hour deadline to meet their demands. Their 42-day-long protest had previously ended on September 21 after lengthy discussions with the state government.

"The state government failed to meet the deadline and hence we are starting the fast unto death, which will continue till our demands are fulfilled. To maintain transparency, we have installed CCTV cameras at the dais where our colleagues are holding the fast," a junior doctor said. Initially, nine junior doctors of different public hospitals of Kolkata and two from North Bengal had begun the fast-unto-death resistance. But after around a week, five of them fell seriously ill and have been removed for treatment to different hospitals. But everyday, doctors are continuing to join this fast-unto-death movement.

The striking doctors have created a manifesto of ten demands to be met to end this impasse including the fast-unto-death requesting that their talks be held directly with the CM. But two such talks have failed as the CM sent the Health Secretary and did not come personally to listen to them. Interestingly, these junior doctors have demanded the ousting of the very Health Secretary appointed by the CM to address them. Talks between the state government and the junior doctors, as well as senior doctors’ associations, including a meeting of over two hours with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Monday, 14 October, have failed.

The final result till today is that the protests have eclipsed the traditional Durga Puja celebrations. Will the CM please wake up?