Tripura CM Manik Saha says "Cancer cannot be allowed to grow for long.. surgery and chemotherapy" will be applied to ensure peace --- On Post-poll violence in Khowai region

Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha has condemned the post-poll violence in Tripura. He described the malady as "cancer" and maintained that surgery, amputation, some radiotherapy and chemotherapy would be applied if necessary to ensure safety and security of the people.

(Several BJP Karyakartas and supporters attacked in Tripura and they have been displaced.)

"We will sit together .... We will not let this go on. Cancer cannot be allowed to grow for long, sometimes amputation is needed too. 

Cancer has no answer but there is some surgery. After amputation, some radiotherapy and chemotherapy...We will have medicine for this disease...", the chief minister said. 

Dr Saha visited the affected houses of victims of post-poll violence in different areas of the state on Tuesday, April 21. The chief minister is a medico by profession.

The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council election was held recently wherein the BJP suffered major setback while Tipra Motha did extremely well. 

He said -- "The ADC (Autonomous District Council) election results were declared on 17th April. Ever since the election results came out, I had been seeing arson and violence in the state. The situation was tense." 

The chief minister he had to visit West Bengal on 18th April for campaigning. 

The state government has formed "groups" to visit these affected districts. 

"I was in West Bengal but I was monitoring the situation from there...I think this is a cancer has been in existence since 1970s. This was done by Congress as well as CPI(M). Tipra Motha is also doing this now," he said. 

"People have been living in camps. I met them and spoke with them. I assured them that we will make for all of their losses, on behalf of the government as well as the party. As far as security is concerned, we are going to ensure that".  

The state government has announced Rs 64.5 lakh relief for 258 displaced families

Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma has issued an appeal for peace through a video message on social media, urging supporters to refrain from violence.

Tension gripped large parts of Tripura, especially in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), following reports of widespread violence after the tribal council elections and vote count. 

The elections saw Tipra Motha deal a crushing blow to the BJP, winning 24 of the 28 council seats. 

In the aftermath, the state government has identified 258 families affected by violence, blamed on the Tipra Motha, and announced Rs 64.50 lakh in relief assistance.

At least 13 major incidents of political violence, alongside several smaller clashes, have been reported across the state. 

Several BJP activists have sustained serious injuries and are undergoing treatment in hospitals. 

A large group of families allegedly displaced by the violence has taken shelter at the government-run Bhagat Singh Youth Hostel in Agartala. 

The Chief Minister visited the shelter on Monday evening and interacted with the families.

Dr Saha alleged that the Tipra Motha has "given shelter to hooligans" and was resorting to violence to intimidate voters and discourage political participation in the next election.

The BJP captured power in Tripura in 2018 ousting the Marxists and again returned home in 2023 assembly polls. 

Notably, the Tipra Motha has been at loggerheads with its ally, the BJP, over the last year due to the non-fulfilment of the much-hyped Tiprasa Accord.

Analysts also attribute to some differences at the personal level between Dr Saha and Tipra Motha chief Pradyot.

Invoking the Tripura Recovery of Damages to Public Property Act, 2021, the chief minister further said that the cost of damaged property would be recovered from those responsible and redistributed among affected families.

Pradyot in his video message has emphasised that “our culture is far older than politics”.

Garia Puja is a local festival, that was observed on Tuesday.

It is observed by indigenous communities such as the Tripuri and Reangs dedicating to Baba Garia, the deity associated with livestock and prosperity.

Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhyankar said that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in violence. 

The arrests of some Tipra Motha supporters in connection with incidents in Khowai and Dhalai districts led to road blockades by aggrieved supporters.

Meanwhile, state Congress president Asish Saha accused the ruling dispensation of failing to maintain law and order and reiterated that Congress would oppose all forms of violence. 

Chief Minister Dr Saha 

ends 

Kerala has sex ratio tilted in favour of Females ::: Out of 20 sitting MPs only Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is woman :::: In Modi-Shah plan Kerala could have had 30 lawmakers and 10 could have been female

 What women politicians have missed out in the big battle ?
Taking the example of Kerala, one could say - the Eves have lost a lot. 

Out of 20 sitting MPs only Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is at present a woman legislator from Kerala. 

Kerala, paradoxically, has the highest sex ration in the country. The women numbering 1,084 as against 1,000 males. 

In Modi-Shah scheme of things; Kerala could have had 30 lawmakers in Lok Sabha and as one-third share of the cake -- at least 10 could have been female. 

This is the line BJP leaders need to and want to tell people across India. 

Tamil Nadu has 39 MPs now. If the proposed Bill was passed; 

the number of MPs would have been 59, and their percentage in the new House of 816 will be 7.23 per cent. In the process Tamil Nadu would have also suffered no loss technically or otherwise both in terms of numbers in total or for women representation.  

West Bengal : Women Power and Litmus test

Some believe the new bill would have relieved pressure to grant another OBC quota, given that “social justice” issues have become a red rag for BJP’s social base of upper castes. Here we have two quotes from PM Narendra Modi made on Women's Quota Bill. 

** "The need was that 25-30 years ago, when this idea first emerged, we should have implemented it right then. Today, we would have brought it to a considerable level of maturity."

"We must not let this important opportunity slip away. Together, we are going to give the country a new direction. We are going to make a meaningful effort to infuse our governance system with sensitivity. 

This will not only shape the nation's politics, but it will also determine the direction and condition of the country." 

A reference worth sharing:  

The sex ratio is projected to increase from 943 (number of females per 1,000 males) in 2011 to 952 by 2036.

This does indicate a positive trend in gender equality. 

The sex ratio was the highest in Kerala (with women numbering 1,084 as against 1,000 males), and lowest in Daman & Diu (618).

However, the political polarisatin has only come to the fore especially on the issue of Delimitation exercise. 

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leaders, including Sunny Joseph, celebrated the defeat of the 2026 Amendment Bill as a "victory for democracy" against the BJP's attempts to "weaponize gender justice" for political gains.

Some numbers: 

In the new century, first there were 45 women MPs (8.29 per cent) in 2004.

It went up to 59 (10.87 per cent) in 2009 and 66 (12.15 per cent) in 2014. 

Notably, the numbers went up to 78 in 2019, but dropped to 74 in 2024. 

In the first Lok Sabha (1951-52), there were just 24 women MPs in a House of 489 (4.91 per cent). 

It went up to 6.28 per cent in 1962, then dipped to 5.58 per cent in 1967, and plunged to 3.51 per cent in 1977.

 It shot up over the next two elections to 5.29 per cent (1980) and 7.95 per cent (1984). 

In the 1990s, women accounted for 7.3 per cent lawmakers in parliament (1991), 7.37 per cent (1996), 7.92 per cent (1998) and 9.02 per cent (1999). 

 

Blogger 

*** According to World Bank, by 2036, India's population is expected to rise to 1.522 billion, with women accounting for 48.8 per cent. 

The women’s share in India’s population was 48.4 per cent (1960 to 1974), 
rose to 48.5 per cent in 2011, but fell to 48.3 till 2018.

Since then, it has gone up to 48.4 per cent. 

The sex ratio in the country is the lowest in Daman & Diu (618 females for every 1000 males). 

At the national level, the sex ratio is projected to increase from 943 (number of females per 1,000 males) in 2011 to 952 by 2036.  

An Inter-Parliamentary Union study found 

Bangladesh has 21 per cent women representatives in Parliament.

Japan has a modest 10 per cent. 

India --- just 15 per cent women in national legislatures. 

Sweden and Norway having the highest share of women in national legislatures (at 46 per cent).

South Africa (45 per cent), 

France (38 per cent), 

Germany and the UK (35 per cent), and the US (29 per cent). 

How have women’s MP contestants’ success rate fared as against those of men in India?

There has been a fall in the success rate for female contestants in parliamentary elections in India.

It has plunged from 49 per cent (success rate for female contestants) in 1957 to 

20 per cent in 1980, 

and dropping further to seven per cent in 1996, before rising to 10 per cent in 2014.

***

But the number of women contestants in various Lok Sabha elections have been growing: 

from just 45 in 1957 to 

83 in 1971, 330 in 1991, 

599 in 1996 and 668 in 2014.

Leaders from Tamil Nadu and Telangana claim that the move would ‘penalise’ them for better governance. But the BJP claims that the ‘pro rata’ approach protects the southern states as there is proportionate increase.

To understand the basics:  

Most of the Indian opposition parties are against the linking of women’s reservation to delimitation and Census. Delimitation redraws boundaries of constituencies to ensure each seat represents an equal number of people. 

The last such exercise was carried out in 2002, based on the 2001 census.

The 106th Constitutional Amendment in 2023 introduced reservation of one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies, based on the first census after the commencement of the Act.

ends 

Recall time ::: April 2025 -- Post-Pahalgam :::: India weighed various strategies :::: Big issue is 'not satisfy a country's ego' or emotions. It will be vital for PM 'not to get derailed and deflected' from the larger goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047

The best formula to deal with a nation like Pakistan is to 'ignore' it. But it ought to be shown its place too. 

 

But it is also a fact that PM Modi himself in the context of Ukraine-Russia conflict has said -- "this is not the era of war".

So 'timing' for a revenge (Badla) with Pakistan is also important "geo-strategic and politically".

The big issue is not satisfy a country's ego or emotions. It will be vital for the Prime Minister 'not to get derailed and deflected' from the larger goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

And it's not day dreaming. It can be achieved.  

Namo with his Defence Minister Rajnath

Growth and tough messages will be good. But the Modi government will have to do both.

 

Dialogue and diplomacy will have to be important elements even while giving a strong message to Islamabad.  

This battle is certainly more than a gully cricket match or a mere political tit-for-tat.

Narendra Modi's response should go beyond Pakistan, which nevertheless deserves a befitting blow.

 'No Country Can Have Foolproof Intelligence': Tharoor Compares Pahalgam to October 7 Hamas Attack On Israel  

Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor said, "Obviously, there was no foolproof intelligence. There was some failure. But we have got the example of Israel, the world's best intelligence services according to everybody, which were taken by surprise on October 7, just two years ago. 

It seems to me, just as Israel is waiting till the end of the war before they demand accountability, similarly, I think we too should see the present crisis through and then demand accountability from the government. 

No country can ever have a foolproof 100% intelligence."

A visible military response is unavoidable after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Congress MP said, citing past incidents like the Uri surgical strike and the Balakot airstrike as precedent. Tharoor opined that India had a range of options, including diplomatic as well as covert and overt action, and stated that he was convinced that there would be some kind of response.

"I think it's very clear that there is a pattern. 

People are encouraged, trained, armed, and often guided from across the border. Then Pakistan denies all responsibility. 

Eventually, responsibility is established and proven, including by foreign intelligence agencies". 

Of course India has viable military options. But other matters will have to be taken into consideration.

PM Narendra Modi has raised not only the level of 'expectations' by hitting out at terror hubs in Pakistan twice - in 2016 and in 2019. He also raised the standard of 'expectations' from international community via-a-vis New Delhi.  

Blogger : Old Parliament building 

The Modi Govt will have to give powerful message(s) that it is going to hit where it hurts. 

India's growth story is booming. Despite the tariff bogey, the US is now busy courting India/Bharat.

"My brand of politics is not so cheap that I would demand statehood at the cost of 26 lives," says Omar Abdullah :::::: "I have lost face" .... on Pahalgam tragedy

 Won't talk statehood at this time, I've lost face: Omar Abdullah on J&K attack

Expressing deep grief, Omar Abdullah said that, while the restoration of statehood remains an important goal, he would defer raising the demand for another time and not make human lives a political bargaining chip.

"My brand of politics is not so cheap that I would demand statehood at the cost of 26 lives," he said in the assembly, asserting that politics must have its limits, especially when human lives are involved.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (April 28th) ruled out politicising the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, saying he would not demand statehood for the Union Territory over the 'dead bodies' of innocent civilians. 

ends 

Siliguri is now a test case of 'stalled' infrastructure and administrative friction :::::::: Bengal Election Mode ::: BJP's candidate in Dantan, Ajit Kumar Jana, was attacked by TMC; Allegaton denied :::

Violent clashes in Dantan: BJP candidate’s hand broken, bikes vandalised

In North Bengal's Siliguri; Traffic congestion now defines daily life, with large parts of the city slowing to a crawl from mid-morning until evening.

Lotus party leaders claim the attackers were affiliated with the TMC.

The candidate’s vehicle and multiple motorcycles were vandalised.  

Dantan in Paschim Medinipur saw a bloodbath on Tuesday when the constituency became a flashpoint of violent clashes as BJP was conducting a last-minute campaign rally, two days before the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections.

BJP alleged that its candidate from Dantan, Ajit Kumar Jana, a businessman-turned-politician, was attacked by Trinamool supporters during a bike rally. Jana allegedly sustained serious injuries, including a fractured hand.  

TMC denied the allegations, countering that it was a politically motivated attempt by the BJP to create unrest in the region. The party also claimed that some of its own workers were injured in retaliatory violence.  

In Siliguri, BJP-TMC blame game over gridlock and stalled projects fuels voter anger before polls  

For many local residents of Siliguri, the city once known as the “Gateway to the Northeast” has become a daily gridlock and a potent election issue as West Bengal heads towards the 2026 Assembly polls.

Long regarded as a strategic transit and trade hub for the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) sub-region, Siliguri is now emerging as a test case of stalled infrastructure, administrative friction and political blame-shifting — with mounting frustration among voters.

In 2021, TMC MLA Bikram Chandra Pradhan won by a margin of 623 votes. This made Dantan one of the closest-margin constituencies in the region.

The incident came on a charged final day of campaigning ahead of polling in 152 constituencies on April 23, involving 1,478 candidates. 

Top leaders intensified their outreach across the state, with Union home minister Amit Shah addressing rallies in North Bengal and Medinipur, while Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held meetings in North 24 Parganas and Kolkata.

At the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, mayor Gautam Deb of the Trinamool Congress said the state had completed its share of work, accusing central agencies of holding up progress.

“PWD has finished the work,” Deb said. “The railways took a very long time; they delayed it intentionally and didn’t complete it before the elections. Even now, they haven’t given the official handover.”

But Shankar Ghosh, the BJP MLA from Siliguri, offered a sharply different account. “The work in the PWD section, the state government’s section, took a long time,” Ghosh said. “Why this work was handled this way is not comprehensible. Both the state and the railways should present a clear picture to the people.”

The contest extends beyond the flyover.

A crucial two-kilometre stretch near Fulbari on NH-27 continues to operate as a single-lane bottleneck, restricting the movement of heavy vehicles. Deb attributed the delay to a legal dispute over land compensation. “The Highway Authority did not accept the arbitrator's rate. They went to the High Court; it took many days,” he said.

Ghosh blamed the state government. “The state government did not acquire the land,” he said. “It’s not about money. It’s about land acquisition problems.”

After liquor and bikes, the Election Commission has turned its attention to Bengal’s tourist places.

The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has issued a directive calling tourists and non-residents to exit the state’s popular coastal destinations in Purba Medinipur district, including Digha, 

Mandarmani, 

Tajpur, Sankharpur, and Udaipur.   

Along with the deployment of over 2.4 lakh personnel for Phase 1 of the Bengal Assembly elections on April 23, the bar on tourism in Bengal seems first of its kind to address security concerns during an election.

In 2025, Post-Pahalgam .... Govt's stern message to BBC for calling terrorists -- 'militants' ::::: Glorifying Jihadis depends a lot on 'media oxygen' ::::: Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality"

 

Sickularism be aware !! Government's stern message to BBC for calling terrorists 'militants' ::::: Glorifying Jihadis depends a lot on 'media oxygen'

Government's stern message to BBC over its coverage of J&K terror attack

BBC almost justified the slaying of tourists and played up Pakistan's positioning as 'victim'.

"Pakistan has responded with tit-for-tat measures against India as tensions soared following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists."

This development came days after the US Senate panel blasted The New York Times for calling the Pahalgam terrorists "militants" in their reportage.

The US House Foreign Affairs Committee criticised the government for diluting the seriousness of the terror attack by calling the attackers "militants" and "gunmen."

In an article titled 'Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack,' the BBC referred to the terror attack as a 'militant attack,' prompting the Narendra Modi government to write to the BBC's India head, Jackie Martin.  

In the BBC's article , the British public service broadcaster reported: 

"Pakistan has responded with tit-for-tat measures against India as tensions soared following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists."  

In a post on X, the US foreign affairs committee struck out the word "militants", replacing it in bold red with "terrorists".

"Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality," 

the committee wrote on X, calling out the newspaper in public domain.

In a host of measures to curb misinformation and provocative messages from across the border following the Pahalgam terror attack, India - based on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs - 

also banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, which had a cumulative 63 million subscribers. Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar's YouTube channel, with 3.5 million subscribers, is among the most notable channels that were banned.

In a major crackdown following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, India had banned - in 2025 - 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for spreading provocative, communally sensitive content and false narratives against India, its Army, and security agencies, government sources said. 

In addition, Shoaib Akhtar's separate YouTube channel, with over 3.5 million subscribers, has also been banned.

The banned platforms, which collectively have around 63 million subscribers, 

included:

 major Pakistani news channels such as Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, Bol News, 

Raftar, 

Geo News, and Suno News. 

YouTube channels run by journalists like Irshad Bhatti, Asma Shirazi, Umar Cheema, and Muneeb Farooq have also been blocked for Indian users. Other banned channels include The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, Uzair Cricket, and Razi Naama.

537 Pakistanis left India in 4 days as exit deadline ended 

(Ban imposed on April 23, 2025 and 53 Pakistanis left India by April 27, 2025)  

::::: After Amit Shah spoke to chief ministers, Union Home Secy Govind Mohan told chief secretaries to ensure that all Pakistanis whose visas were revoked must leave India

According to the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025, which came into effect on April 4, 2025 overstaying, violating visa conditions, or trespassing in restricted areas could lead to three years in jail and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.

         BSF personnel checked documents of Pakistani nationals arriving to cross over to their country as the deadline to exit India nears its end at the Attari-Wagah border point, near Amritsar.  

The exit deadline for Pakistani nationals visiting India on SAARC visas ended on April 26 2025; while for the rest, except those on medical visas, closed on April 27th. 

The deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation also ended on April 27.  

237 Pakistani nationals, including nine diplomats and officials, left India through the Attari-Wagah border post within two days of Pahalgam attack.

Eighty one people left on April 26, 191 on April 25 and 28 on April 24.

Similarly, 116 Indians, including one diplomat, returned from Pakistan by April 25-26, 2025 through the international land border crossing; 

342 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, came back on April 26; 

287 Indians crossed over on April 25; and 105 Indians returned on April 24. 

Some of the Pakistanis might have left India through airports too. India did not have direct air connectivity in April 2025 with Pakistan, and so they might have left for other countries.

Three Defence/Military, Naval and Air Advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were declared Persona Non Grata on April 23 (2025) and they were given one week to leave India.

Five support staff of these defence attaches were also asked to leave India. 

New Delhi had also withdrawn its defence attache from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

ends 

Massive Fire Breaks Out At Ghaziabad's Crossing Republic, Shops Gutted :::: Fire, which broke out around 11:30 am, was brought under control after nearly an hour

Massive Fire Breaks Out At Ghaziabad's Crossing Republic, Shops Gutted

A major disaster was averted as the flames did not reach a nearby CNG pump.

The shopping complex is close to Supertech and Ajnara buildings 

A massive fire broke out at shops near a roundabout in the Crossing Republic police station area of Ghaziabad, triggering panic in the locality. The flames quickly spread and engulfed five shops while thick black smoke billowed into the sky.

Fire department officials were alerted immediately, and several fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse the blaze. According to initial reports, the fire started in one of the shops, and three gas cylinders exploded, causing the flames to spread rapidly to nearby establishments. 

The fire, which broke out around 11:30 am, was brought under control after nearly an hour. 

A major disaster was averted as the flames did not reach a nearby CNG pump. 

Meanwhile, even as firefighters managed to control the blaze at the shops, another fire was reported about 200 meters away in a locked flat on the 22nd floor of Ajnara Green Society. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in either of the incidents.

Why and How West Bengal Polls may Unveil a New Saga :::: A reminder that history never quite stops echoing

Kaalbela to Kaalbela-2? Why Bengal Polls May Unveil a New Saga  

The legacy of Kaalbela by Samaresh Majumdar finds fresh relevance. Could a sequel capture the political churn in West Bengal?  

By NIRENDRA DEV

Kolkata  

— As West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 near conclusion, Bengal’s turbulent political landscape seems ripe for a powerful cultural revisit. Few works capture the state’s ideological struggle and emotional churn as vividly as Kaalbela —a landmark political novel by Samaresh Majumdar, later adapted into an acclaimed film by Goutam Ghose in 2009. 

Today, the shifting currents of Bengal politics could easily inspire a sequel —Kaalbela-2 — for a new generation.

The word “Kaalbela” itself denotes timeliness—a moment shaped by history. The original narrative, both in the novel and the film, is rooted in the violent upheavals of the Naxalite movement in 1970s Calcutta. 

Featuring actors like Parambrata Chatterjee, Paoli Dam, and the legendary Soumitra Chatterjee, the film chronicles the journey of Animesh Mitra, a young man caught in the ideological crossfire of his time.

Animesh, a middle-class youth from Jalpaiguri, arrives in Calcutta with dreams of a career. 

His father’s warning—“the city will swallow you” and “politics is a luxury the middle class cannot afford”—sets the tone. 

Yet, like many of his generation, Animesh is drawn into student politics, eventually gravitating toward radical Naxalite ideology. 

His transformation reflects the journey of countless Bengali youths who were swept into political extremism, often without fully grasping its consequences.

The narrative does not romanticize rebellion. It exposes the brutal realities of the era—state repression, ideological fractures, and human rights violations under the then Congress-led regime of Siddhartha Shankar Ray. 

Police excesses, custodial torture, and fake encounters form a chilling backdrop. Characters like Subhas Sen are eliminated, while others, like Animesh, are left physically and emotionally scarred.

Equally striking is the portrayal of internal divisions within the Left movement. The ideological split between Marxists and Naxalites—both emerging from similar roots—led to mistrust, violence, and disillusionment. In one powerful moment, a former comrade turned minister tells Animesh: “You did not understand what was to be done and what was not.” That line encapsulates the tragedy of a generation caught between idealism and miscalculation. 

Kaalbela also humanizes collateral damage. Tridip, a poet and a broken lover, is drawn into politics without conviction and pays the ultimate price. 

Women, including tribal activists, face horrific abuse in custody. These are not just plot points—they mirror real historical trauma in Bengal’s socio-political memory.  The film ends on a somber note. Animesh returns from prison to find a changed world. His beloved Madhabilata, once from an affluent family, now lives in poverty with their child. The personal cost of political upheaval becomes painfully clear.

This is where the idea of Kaalbela-2 becomes compelling—especially in the context of 2026. Bengal today is no longer the Calcutta of the 1970s. 

The ideological battleground has shifted from Left versus ultra-Left to a more complex contest involving regional forces and national parties. Yet, the emotional and political undercurrents remain strikingly familiar.

A sequel could center on Arka, Animesh’s son—now a middle-aged man navigating a very different Bengal. 

Perhaps he is a typical bhadralok professional, burdened by routine, disconnected from the ideological fire that defined his father’s youth. Or perhaps he is haunted by it—constantly measuring the present against the past.

The generational shift could also extend to Arka’s children, who inhabit a hyper-polarized political environment. Old slogans may find new avatars. 

A line like “This country belongs to India, not to foreign or Chinese agents” could morph into contemporary rhetoric reflecting present-day anxieties and identity politics.  

Yet, beyond politics, Kaalbela-2 could retain the emotional core of the original—alienation, love, and existential drift. The quiet despair of a young man waking up to loneliness, or the slow erosion of ideals in a pragmatic world, remains timeless.

Any such reimagining must end where it began—with a tribute to Samaresh Majumdar. Best known for his Animesh trilogy, of which Kaalbela won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984, Majumdar chronicled Bengal’s soul with rare honesty. His legacy extends beyond this work, including creations like the detective Arjun, adapted into films such as Arjun – Kalimpong E Sitaharan, and novels like Buno Haansh.

As Bengal heads into another decisive election cycle, revisiting Kaalbela is not just nostalgia—it is a reminder that history, in this state, never quite stops echoing.

Samaresh Majumdar 

ends