Panja busy on stage, his bureaucrats behind stage

Panja has specially invited Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee as the guest of honour. Both also share a passion for poetry: Like Vajpayee, Panja has also published a book on poetry and has proudly added that in his bio-data.

The production is being managed by a group of Panja’s High Court buddies under the auspices of Calcutta High Court Lawyers Drama Association, some of whom have been helping in organising the play. Much of the groundwork, however, has been done by the MEA officials – they have been busy searching for the right venue, arranging for the publicity, and trying to ensure Delhi’s who’s who are there on March 3 to watch the Minister perform.

The Minister has had several performances in the recent past and has been making frequent trips to Calcutta to act in the play and for the rehearsals. Now he is in Calcutta and his engagements include the rehearsal for the play. The final rehearsal, however, is scheduled for March 2, when all the actors come to Delhi.

The other invitees include half a dozen Cabinet ministers including External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Railways Minister and Trinamool Congress Leader Mamata Banerjee. The Chief Justice of India, Justice A S Anand, and a host of MPs and diplomats are also on the guest list.

Though the Minister’s aides feel that the play will be a big hit after its success in Mumbai and Calcutta, however the only hitch happens to be the language barrier as the play is in Bangla and not many amongst his VVIP audience may understand much of it.

Panja’s aides in the MEA inspected almost half a dozen auditoriums in Delhi and then chose the FICCI Auditorium for the show. There will be repeat show scheduled for March 4 at the Mavalankar Auditorium.