People's Democracy

COMRADE SUDIPTA CONDOLED

Meeting Calls to Fight for Rights

Debasish Chakraborty

THOUSANDS of people attended the condolence meeting of Comrade Sudipta Gupta in Kolkata on April 17. The death of Comrade Sudipta, a state committee member of the SFI, in police custody on April 2 has created a sense of deep grief and resentment among people in the state. The meeting, called for by four Left students’ organisations, proved once again how the martyrdom has shaken the conscience of the people. It also proved that the virulent campaign against the SFI and the Left parties over the preceding few days could not deter the people’s determination.

The venue at Nazrul Mancha overflowed on the day and hundreds of people had to stand outside. In the meeting, organised by the SFI, AISF, SB and PSU, a documentary on the life and politics of Comrade Sudipta was shown. The entire gathering was struck with pain when Comrade Sudipta’s father, Pranab Gupta, played Tagore songs on violin to express his greatest loss. Debojyoti Das, SFI state secretary, recounted that Bhagat Singh was the idol of Comrade Sudipta. The latter too died the death of a martyr, protesting against the rulers’ attacks on fundamental rights. SFI general secretary Ritabrata Banerjee condemned the effort to demonise the students’ involvement in political activities after Comrade Sudipta’s death. He categorically expressed apology for the unwarranted incident in front of Yojana Bhanan in Delhi involving a Bengal minister but said that protesting against Comrade Sudipta’s death was perfectly justified. Tarun Majumdar, a veteran film director, expressed his solidarity with the struggling students of West Bengal. In a written message, eminent film director Mrinal Sen called upon the students to carry on the fight for their rights with vigour. Speakers reiterated the demand for an impartial judicial enquiry into Comrade Sudipta’s death, a demand which the state government has refused to heed so far.

Apart from students, many teachers, intellectuals and distinguished persons from all walks of life were present in the meeting. The meeting ended with the song “We Shall Overcome” with the entire audience singing in chorus.