Kolkata, Nov. 1 -- A day after a cross-section of civil society took to the streets of Kolkata carrying books to protest the alleged vandalism of Left-affiliated bookstalls during Durga Puja, the CPI(M) leadership has decided to take the campaign to neighbourhoods across Bengal through mobile book fairs and local bookstalls.
Saturday's march at College Square, organised at the initiative of artists, educationists and other members of civil society, brought together writers, academics, intellectuals and book lovers, alongside Left leaders and activists. Participants carried books of their choice instead of conventional political flags and banners, making the demonstration distinct from a regular political rally.
The proposed initiative will see mobile book fairs and bookstalls being set up in different neighbourhoods across the state, according to the CPI(M) leadership. The move is intended to counter the attacks on bookstalls during the festive season and keep the practice of taking books to public spaces alive.
The party has alleged that nearly 300 bookstalls belonging to Left organisations were targeted during Durga Puja. Several incidents of vandalism and obstruction were reported from different parts of the state, with an instance of arson also reported in North 24-Parganas.
Educationist Pabitra Sarkar, former bureaucrat and Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar, and senior CPI(M) leaders Sujan Chakraborty and Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya were among those who participated in Saturday's march.
There were no conventional party slogans or flags. Instead, songs, poetry recitations and cultural performances accompanied the procession, with books becoming the central symbol of protest.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.