Marxist and Progressive Literature at Durga Puja
Samprikta Bose
THE annual campaign successfully merging the festive spirit of Durga Puja with ideological outreach has once again affirmed its status as a highly anticipated feature of Bengal’s cultural calendar. Spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and its mass organisations, this massive and widespread initiative saw the establishment of numerous Marxist and progressive book stalls across West Bengal.
Launched primarily in the last week of September, the central goal was clear – to promote scientific temper, rational thinking, and ideological clarity by offering a rich collection of Marxist, progressive, and children's literature. The endeavor drew significant public attention and support from eminent personalities, including actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty and film director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee.
Unprecedented Reach
The geographical scope and public response to the initiative were unprecedented this year, with many districts reporting excellent participation and an overall increase in sales despite challenges like significant rain in Kolkata.
In Kolkata, at least 114 stalls were organized, demonstrating an overall increase in sales despite the inclement weather. The Jadavpur (8B) book stall recorded monumental sales of over Rs 3.5 Lakh, maintaining its tradition of huge public response. Other notable centres, including the CPI(M) Jorasanko 1 Area Committee's stall at College Square and the National Book Agency (or NBA) stall at Bagbazar, also witnessed a great turnout.
The district of North 24 Parganas was a major focus, with 212–213 Marxist, progressive, and children's literature sales centres established during the Sharadotsav period alone. With subsequent drives planned around Diwali and the anniversary of the November Revolution, the total number of stalls reached 273, noted as a "massive response" by the public. South 24 Parganas set up more than 60 stalls, recording good sales in the city area and a strong response in suburbs like Baruipur.
The success extended across the northern and western districts. Coochbehar saw over 50 stalls successfully established, demonstrating a good public response and an increase in sales, marked by strong participation from students, youth, and women. West Burdwan had 44 stalls, with the cities of Durgapur and Asansol reporting big crowds and good sales, providing a "ray of hope". Similarly, Purba Medinipur featured over 100 stalls, while Paschim Medinipur had 85 Sharad book stalls, with the largest at the IIT campus in Kharagpur town. Stalls were also noted in Howrah, Hooghly, Maldah, Birbhum, and Bardhaman, and even in Darjeeling despite a "time of crisis."
Mass Organizations Lead
Mass organizations played a crucial role in the campaign's outreach. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) set up several stalls. Secretary Kaninika Ghosh noted that the initiative successfully attracted not only the general public but also working women, promoting an alternate culture through diverse books on politics, society, science, and fiction. AIDWA President Jahanara Khan highlighted the increase in women's participation.
The SFI and DYFI were highly active, jointly organising stalls. SFI Kolkata District Committee President Barnana Mukhopadhyay highlighted the success of the 40-year-old SFI-DYFI stall in the minority-dominated area of Khidirpur which reported good sales and saw significant participation from girl students. The CITU and the Paschim Banga Vigyan Mancha (people’s science organisation) also contributed significantly to the widespread outreach.
Future Goals
Commenting on the overall success, party central committee member Sujan Chakraborty stated, "This year, despite the natural calamities, we've seen an overall increase in sales, which is highly encouraging."
He detailed the publication policy – a total of 52 new publications were introduced (27 reprints and 25 absolutely new publications), with 12 of them being made available in the stalls for the very first time. He noted that while NBA book sales are consistently strong, a concerted effort to sell non-NBA Marxist Progressive literature also proved successful, and children's literature sold in good amounts.
"Crucially, we've made our Party documents widely available and will continue this effort to reach the people through to the November Revolution anniversary," Chakraborty concluded, affirming the commitment to build on this ideological success every year.
