Artists and intellectuals who lent whole hearted support to efforts to
generate public outcry in what was perceived as excesses of the State
in Nandigram and Singur were caught on the wrong foot when their
support was used by the Maoists in inflicting terror. They quickly
scrambled to attach explanatory notes to their former acts. Theatre
person Kaushik Sen was among them. His play 'Darjiparar Marjinara' is
a presentation of this confusion. The play metaphorises the Red Light
district of Sonagachhi to critique the role of the West Bengal
government as a pimp selling land to the highest bidder. It also
ridicules artists and intellectuals whom it sees as having sold
themselves to the establishment. In doing so the play calls for an
independent art free from hegemonic institutions. But is such
neutrality possible. Kaushik's actions though well intentioned has
helped the right-wing Trinamool and the anarchist Maoists. If
Trinamool comes to power next year will they allow Kaushik and artists
like him a free hand to practise their art. They got to decide who
would buy them!
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