‘Walk for books’: Hundreds march in Kolkata against attack on bookstalls
Citizens, activists, professors, and politicians join the march, which was held without any political banner. It was organised in protest against attacks on bookstalls during Durga Puja, blamed on right-wing groups and the BJP
On Saturday, October 31, a large crowd of people gathered in Kolkata for a protest walk, known as "Walk for Books." The march aimed to voice opposition against recent attacks on bookstalls that were allegedly carried out by right-wing groups and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The demonstration took place on College Street, also known as Boipara, the book district of Kolkata. Participants included ordinary citizens, activists, professors, and politicians who took to the streets, holding books, banners, and posters.
At the forefront of the protest were leaders of the Left parties, including Mohammad Salim, Sujan Chakraborty, Biman Bose, and Satarup Ghosh. The latter emphasized that the protest against the attacks on books and bookstalls was unprecedented in Kolkata, as such attacks were not a common occurrence. Ghosh further stated that the march represented a unity of people from various backgrounds, sharing a common love for books.
Various individuals, such as a publisher and owner of Setu Publication, Subrata Das, expressed their support for the protest by joining the march. Das highlighted the importance of education and criticized the current government's actions, stating that they sought to suppress learning and questioning among the populace.
The rally saw a diverse array of participants from different walks of life, with individuals ranging from eight years old to eighty years old joining the procession. A research scholar from Jadavpur University, who wished to remain anonymous, also shared their thoughts on the situation, expressing disappointment in the government's actions and their impact on education and the free flow of ideas.
The protest was organized in response to recent attacks on Left parties' book stalls during the Durga Puja festivities. According to Sujan Chakraborty, at least 292 stalls were vandalized. Despite these attacks, the incident unexpectedly led to increased support for the book stalls, as people and politicians alike rallied around them in solidarity, resulting in sales surpassing ₹1.5 crore.
Right-wing groups and the BJP were accused of orchestrating the attacks on the book stalls. However, the BJP denied these allegations and continued to criticize the book stalls during their political campaigns.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
