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Esplanade, March 17, 2007. Ritobroto, a student, describes the protest meeting.

The meeting at Dharmatola today was one of the most memorable ones of my life.

Nabarun Bhattacharyya spoke at the meeting. He declared that he was giving up the Bankim Award that he had received for his novel, Herbert.

Among other speakers, there was painter Samir Aich and also Jaya Mitra and Mridul Dasgupta. In the meantime, a statement by a listener created a stir. He demanded poetry be written about buses burnt on the Bandh Day. Perhaps he found some similarity between charred bodies of raped women and burnt buses...

Poet Joy Goswami read 2 poems, young actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay also spoke. Srijato spoke too. He read a statement from Sanhati, a forum of students and academics in various universities. He also mentioned the website www.sanhati.com

On stage, Kabir Suman sang the song "Hal chhero na bondhu" (Don't give up, my friend!). Another artist named Bidyut sang too...and his song was captivating. Young poets read their poems. Poets read poems from little magazines like Bijanto, Ohornish and Onushtoop. Srijato read two poems, one his and one by Shankha Ghosh. Srijato also announced Shankha Ghosh's message that he was resigning from the Bangla Academy.

It was late afternoon by now. 2000 people had been standing, listening, talking, discussing. Kabir Suman said "Come let's bury this CPM government. After having meat and rice today, the Chief Minister has announced that he is sorry about the incident!" Bringing a girl to the stage, "Son of a whore Laxman Seth, dumbfuck Binoy Kongar, come and rape in CPM style...lets see what can you do!"

A DYFI leader who had left the party also spoke. Sunanda Sanyal spoke, Sourav spoke for Saptarshi publsihers. The meeting organizers requested people to hold candlelight processions in their respective localities.

At the end, Kabir Suman shared his experiences in Nandigram. He was relatively calm at this stage. He said "Come, let's love. Let's celebrate this day! Because there cannot be a revolt without love. Come , let's laugh heartily when we see CPM leaders! Then let's join hands ourselves and sing a song "Tahole ekhuno harani protibad" (So protest is still not lost...).

Doctors announced that they were sending a medical team to Nandigram - Dr.Siddhartha Gupta, Dr.Punnaprata Gun and many others. This is how the program ended.

I loved how people from different political affiliations came together and participated, sometimes silent, sometimes excited, but without creating violence.