Ugly rash: Editorial on attacks on book stalls and the erosion of Bengal’s cultural ethos

Bengal has been known for its love and respect for books. The state has now made news for the hatred for some kinds of literature. Several book stalls erected by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) near Durga Puja venues, a regular feature of the festival, have come under attack allegedly from right-wing goons all over the state. Barasat, Malda, North and South 24 Parganas have witnessed such vandalism. Calcutta has not been spared the shame either. Jadavpur witnessed a pitched battle between Left supporters and the administrative apparatus comprising the police and municipal officials that sought to demolish a temporary book stall with a bulldozer: police permission had apparently not been granted for the edifice. These ugly incidents continue, with another attack being reported from Uttar Dinajpur on Tuesday night. Significantly, the powers that be have been speaking in different voices on the matter. The Bengal finance minister and a leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh have, quite correctly, condemned the hooliganism. The state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samik Bhattacharya, has distanced his party from the transgressions. A question must be raised in light of these condemnations and denials: can such orchestrated attacks take place without patronage? And why is the government not acting against these supposedly anonymous assailants? Incidentally, the chief minister, Suvendu Adhikari, is on record directing Puja committees to deny permission to such stalls if the Left chose to use the term, sharodutsav, instead of Durga Puja.

Taken together, these episodes reveal an all-too-familiar malaise afflicting Bengal’s landscape. That malaise goes by the name of hegemony — be it political or cultural. The Left Front, during its long stint in power, had harnessed this weapon to silence dissenters and political opponents. The Left Front’s successor, the erstwhile undivided Trinamool Congress, continued the disreputable tradition. But even during these eras, Bengal had seldom witnessed disrespect towards books. That line has now been crossed too, under the BJP’s watch. This is a continuity that dismantles the rhetoric of meaningful change. Ironically, over the decades, Bengal’s electorate has hoped for poriborton with every change in regime. Is that hope being belied on this occasion as well?