July 21, 2017
Slice of Bengal on display at Dharmatala on the occasion of Shahid Dibas
The July 21 mega-public meeting today on the occasion of Shahid Dibas turned into a display of a slice of Bengal.
The stage hosted stalwarts from various fields of arts, sports and culture. People from all walks of life came to the rally in huge numbers to pay tributes to the martyrs of the July 21, 1993 police firing.
Celebrity singers like Nachiketa, Kabir Suman and Indranil Sen enthralled the crowd with their patriotic songs. Several personalities from the Bengali film and television fraternity were present. The Trinamool Congress Chairperson, Mamata Banerjee spoke to each of them individually.
Near the main dais, there was a list of the 13 people who were martyred on July 21, 1993, even as LED screens displayed the proceedings on the dais for the huge gathering of supporters that stretched up to 2km from the venue. Medical camps were set up at various points.
People in all their colours were seen everywhere. From Cooch Behar to Jangalmahal, they came from every corner of Bengal to commemorate July 21.
The Esplanade East area saw colourful dance performances by the Tusu dancers of Jangalmahal, sakhi dancers of Mukutmanipur, tribal dancers of Bankura, chhau dancers of Purulia and dhakis. They won the hearts of the people through their performances.
There were tableaux depicting the history of July 21. People came adorned in the colours of the party – be it cutouts of the party symbol or tricolour shirts and kurtas or decorative headdresses. Teenagers to the elderly braved the possibility of showers to attend the meeting.
It was a spontaneous outpouring of the Maa-Mati-Manush of Bengal.
