Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda and Russian revolutionary V.I. Lenin existed in peace on a bookshelf — albeit as pictures on book covers — as the CPM inaugurated its first book stall in Calcutta on Tuesday, oblivious to the political tension that preceded the setting up of the space.
Book stalls selling Marxist and progressive literature during festivals, particularly during Durga Puja, have been routine business for over 50 years.
This September, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari said: “You (the Left) consider Sanatan Dharma to be merely cultural. You do not say Durga Puja; you call it ‘sharadotsab’. I will tell all Durga Puja committees that if these so-called communists come to set up stalls and do not write ‘Durga Puja’ instead of ‘sharadotsab’, do not allow a single stall (to them).”
The CPM, which sets up the maximum number of book stalls during festivals including Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Christmas and Eid, was quick to respond.
“We neither write ‘Durga Puja’ nor ‘sharadotsab’. We write only Pustak Bikray Kendra (book selling centre), but we accept the challenge thrown to us by the chief minister. We will certainly set up book stalls this year,” CPM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty had said.
In the build-up to the Puja, the CPM and other Left organisations approached police seeking permission to set up book stalls, including over 100 in Calcutta.
While CPM state committee member Sudip Sengupta, who organises the Jadavpur book stall that party veteran Biman Bose inaugurated on Tuesday, thanked the police for their cooperation, party leaders in other parts of the state had a different experience.
“Every year in East Burdwan we set up around 40 book stalls, including 11 in Burdwan town. So far, we have not got the desired response from the police. Even if we do not get permission, we will set up the stalls. Is selling books a crime under BJP rule?” asked CPM leader in Burdwan, Apurba Chatterjee.
The experience is more bitter for the party in Nadia, prompting the CPM to move Calcutta High Court after the police denied permission to set up book stalls at two locations.
As the matter came up before Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya on Tuesday, the judge sought an answer from the government. The state government's lawyer will respond on Wednesday.
Inaugurating the Jadavpur book stall, Bose said: “All of a sudden, the double-engine government said our Marxist and progressive book stalls cannot be set up. How can children, youth and people of the country gain knowledge without reading books?”
Actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty at the inauguration event saw hope in books to overcome “dark times”.
CPM leader Sudip Sengupta brought out the underlying tension. “The local BJP MLA will be here soon to inaugurate a book stall by BJP sympathisers. They are welcome, but don’t try to provoke us," he said.