The Marigold and the drummers!

Babul Supriyo, M.P. and Union Minister of State, is contesting from Tollygunge. If the few movie studios in the vicinity give comfort to Babul, a singer, the place has been in constant control of the TMC for the last decade in the many elections held during the period. He has a strong adversary Aroop Biswas, a minister from Mamata’s cabinet.

The pitch was queered by Jaya Bachchan landing in Kolkata to campaign for Aroop Biswas (though, I think the rising Covid pandemic in Mumbai could be a reason for her stint). Babul promptly organized a roadshow of JP Nadda, the BJP national president in Tollygunge.

Too many Raths, chariots, marigold decked have made the style common. Joblessness had made the “Mahboob’ band-parties virtually redundant, who got a new but short lease of life during the elections. There they were, decked in bright blue, red and of course saffron! The many organs, saxophones, clarinets and drums were almost in competition with one another. There was local flavour in abundance too, famously knows as ‘tasa party,’ the small flat drums that could produce a high-pitched sound.

For those wrongly blaming the government and the State forever being in a status-quo, I could see the changes. The drums had no parchment but were all synthetic. The drumsticks were of nylon, and the bowl itself, earlier always of burnt clay, was metal. They have not heard much of ‘Bagirahoto,’ or outsiders, as most of them were from the adjoining States. However, the local lifestyle is deeply ingrained in their psyche, as many of them sported ‘Hawai chappals’, the kind you see with mighty persons in the State.

Every song they played was loud Bollywood numbers, popular ever since the film Bobby was released in 1973. My God, that was nearly half a century ago, and I must be old! Most Bengalis then did not know Hindi but now flaunt the language crying that local traditions are trampled with and the Bangla language needing protection. That’s politics!

The trams roll past in and out from the adjacent depot, every part of it making dismal clitter-clatter. The trams seem a classic example of the state of affairs of the State. 

The truck, or the chariot, is loaded with tons of marigold flowers, its saffron colour for no-fault, matching with the many flags, dresses and headbands. The leaders at the top lavishly shower the flowers on the commoners as they roll past. It reminds me of the magnanimous poll promises. Did I miss the stylish, high-end Gucci glasses of the candidate? No. After all, he is an accomplished artist and a son of Bengal.

The drummers’ swirl, jump, dance to the beats and do acrobatics with their instruments as the leaders pass. Shortly they will collect their fees and rush to the opponent’s meeting.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voice