The staccato beats of the ubiquitous dhaki—the drummer—are rising to a crescendo across the state; it’s that time of the year when Bengal, and Bengalis, drop all work to pay obeisance to the Ma Durga and immerse in the spirit of pujo. But these are not ordinary days in Bengal, and even the biggest and all-encompassing festival is unlikely to tamper the growing bitterness between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP, which has launched a multi-pronged war to dislodge chief minister Mamata Banerjee in about one-and-a-half years from now.
Leading the BJP’s battle allegedly is governor Jagdeep Dhankar, who has apparently emerged as the most potent weapon for the party to pulverise the ruling TMC and its government and push the rivals on the defensive. Mamata Banerjee is already facing the heat of the investigations into the Saradha chit fund scam and the Centre’s assertion of having Bengal’s own National Register of Citizens (NRC), on the lines of the controversial exercise in Assam. At least 10 people have committed suicide or died due to NRC-realted depression in the state over the past couple of weeks.
This story is from the October 14, 2019 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 14, 2019 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Soft Ruins
'Soft Ruins' is a chapter within the long-term ongoing project \"When Spring Never Comes\", an expansive exploration of memory, identity and displacement in the aftermath of exile within contemporary global politics. It reflects on how the journey as an asylum seeker in Europe mirrors the instability and threats of life under dictatorship, amidst rising right-wing movements and shifting power dynamics, where both certainty and identity are redefined
Building Beyond Homes: Provident Housing's Transformative Approach
Provident Housing leads in crafting thoughtfully designed homes that cater to modern homebuyers' evolving needs. With a focus on timely delivery, sustainability, and innovative, customer-centric solutions, the company sets new benchmarks. In this exclusive interview, Mallanna Sasalu, CEO of Provident Housing, shares insights into the company's strategies, upcoming projects, and vision for India's housing future.
Syria Speaks
A Syrian graffiti artist-activist's tale of living through bombings, gunshots and displacement
The Burdened
Yemen, once a beautiful land identified with the Queen of Sheba, is now one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times
Sculpting In Time
Documentaries such as Intercepted and Songs of Slow Burning Earth grapple with the Russian occupation beyond displays of desolation
The Story Won't Die
Is Israel's triumphalism over its land grab in Syria realistic? The hard reality is-Israel now has Al-Qaeda as a next-door neighbour
Against the Loveless World
In times of war, love exists as a profound act of defiance
Soul of My Soul
What does it mean to continue to create art during a genocide?
in Dancing the Glory of Monsters
By humanising the stories of those affected by war, poverty and displacement, Buuma hopes to foster empathy and inspire action
All the President's Men
Co-author of All The President's Men and one of the two Washington Post journalists (the other was Carl Berntstein) who broke the Watergate scandal that brought down the President Richard Nixon administration in the United States in 1974, Bob Woodward's recent book War was on top of The New York Times Bestseller list, even above John Grisham.
