Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Folk theatre, fork drama
CALCUTTA: Heroism has scored over heroics in jatra, the vibrant Bengal folk theatre. With the new season beginning, the organisers in Calcutta are finding that Kargil and not elections interests the people. While as many as four groups are cashing in on the war, only two have chosen polls as a theme. This is quite a fall as politics and politicians have long been favourite themes of this theatre.
The ones on the polls are called Asahay Paschim Banga Helpless West Bengal and Bou jiteche votey, swami jachche courtey Wife wins votes, husband goes to court. Earlier political productions like Mamata ebar murder hobey Mamata willbe murdered this time, Banglar baghini Mamata Bengal8217;s tigress mamata, besides Jyoti babu jabab dao Jyoti babu, you have to answer had not made headway and some were allegedly forced to close down.
AMETHI: There are three real contenders in the Amethi arena: Sonia Gandhi, Sanjay Singh and their slogan writers. The latter have filled the remotest corners of the constituency with their limmericks and improvisations and in Sonia8217;s case, with fitting answers to each of the BJP8217;s charges.
8220;Jo bahu ko bahu na maane, woh desh ko kya pehchaane A person who does not recognise his own daughter-in-law knows little about the nation,8221; goes one. 8220;Jan jan ki pukaar sthir sarkar, Ab ki baar Congress ki ummeedwar People are clamouring for a stable government, and this time the Congress nominee will win,8221; goes another. 8220;Bigdi baat banayenge, Soniaji ko layenge Things can be set right by bringing Sonia here,8221; yet another graffiti says. The BJP8217;s saffron agenda is attacked with8220;Ab nahin chalegi dharm ki aandhi, ab aayi Sonia Gandhi The communal wave will die now that Sonia is here.8221;
Sonia8217;s daughter Priyanka Vadra, who has been the sole campaigner for the party in the last fortnight, has perhaps more slogans written on her than even the Congress president. 8220;Amethi ki aandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Priyanka takes Amethi by storm,8221; says one slogan. 8220;Nayi Amethi, nayi hajum, machi Priyankaji ki dhoom In the rejuvenated Amethi, Priyanka is creating a stir,8221; says another. Someone has even put up a slogan apologising for last year8217;s election in which the BJP8217;s Sanjay Gandhi had won. 8220;Bahar se BJP, dil se Congressi From the exterior they may back the BJP, but at heart they are Congressmen,8221; it declares.
A sprawling poster at a crossing takes a dig at the BJP-led Kalyan Singh government in the state. 8220;Apradhi khule aam ghoom rahe hain, Kalyan Singh ke bhay-mukt raaj mein Criminals are having a field day in the fearless rule ofKalyan.8221;
GUWAHATI: Just when Congress candidate Nepal Chandra Das thought he had the people eating out of his 8220;hand8221; in the Karimganj Lok Sabha constituency, he saw a namesake had given them a 8220;fork8221;. Another Nepal Chandra Das is contesting the seat as an Independent and has been given 8220;fork8221; as the election symbol. What8217;s pricking the Congress is that in his posters, Das No. 2 has printed the 8220;fork8221; with a small handle so that it looks like the 8220;hand8221;, the Congress symbol. Das No. 1 has gone to the EC to fork out the problem.
