In a powerful display of social consciousness, students across Kolkata transformed traditional Saraswati Puja celebrations into platforms for political commentary and social awareness this year. The most striking protest emerged from Ballygunge Science College, where students chose the controversial Special Intensive Revision process as their central theme.
Artistic Protest Against SIR Harassment
A group of neuroscience students created a thought-provoking installation that visually represented the distress caused by the SIR process. Their decoration featured a dramatic black hole background with numerous hands clutching documents, symbolizing the bureaucratic harassment faced by citizens. Several hanging ropes were strategically placed to memorialize the consecutive deaths attributed to fear and mental stress related to SIR procedures.
At the center of their display stood a goalpost with green and saffron jerseys fixed to opposing posts, creating a clear visual link between the SIR process and election politics. Subhojit Sapui, an MSc second-year neuroscience student, explained their motivation: "We delivered a strong message against the harassment we're all experiencing currently. Our prayer to the goddess is for this to stop immediately."
Educational Disruption and Social Impact
The students highlighted how the SIR process has disrupted education, with numerous school teachers being assigned Booth Level Officer duties and school buildings being used for SIR hearings. "Eighty lives have already been lost to this process," Sapui noted, while acknowledging that despite these efforts, people in Bengal continue to live peacefully under the current government. Their installation also recognized various social welfare schemes implemented by the state government.
Environmental Consciousness Takes Center Stage
Beyond political commentary, environmental concerns featured prominently in several puja decorations. Scottish Church Collegiate School dedicated their theme entirely to plantation and pollution control initiatives. Students created detailed sketches promoting environmental protection and displayed inspirational slogans on chart paper that formed the backdrop of their puja mandap.
Celebrating Women's Empowerment
Jadavpur Vidyapith focused their Saraswati Puja theme on women's empowerment with the compelling catchline: "Bring light to the home as Lakshmi, conquer the world as Saraswati." This theme skillfully blended traditional perspectives on women's roles with contemporary achievements by prominent women across various fields.
Partha Pratim Baidya, the headmaster, elaborated on their approach: "There existed a preconceived notion about women's capabilities that is being challenged today as women excel in every domain—from science and technology to sports and politics. While we pray to Goddess Saraswati for knowledge and education, women have historically been subdued and told they were incompetent."
Cultural Heritage and Historical Reflection
Other institutions chose themes celebrating Bengal's rich cultural legacy. Hindu School paid tribute to legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak on his 100th birth centenary, organizing an exhibition in collaboration with Bangla Academy titled "Fire Dekha" (Recap). Their idol and decorations drew inspiration from Bengal Patachitra, the traditional mythological art form of the region.
Bhawanipur Mitra Institution developed a theme centered on "Kolkata," blending historical reflection with contemporary reality. The installation focused on the city's remarkable transformation into a metropolitan hub while highlighting prominent Kolkata landmarks. Raja Dey, the school headmaster, explained: "The core thrust of our theme was to reflect upon the historical journey of our beloved city, celebrating its evolution while acknowledging its challenges."
These diverse Saraswati Puja themes demonstrate how Kolkata's educational institutions are using traditional celebrations to address pressing contemporary issues, from political processes and environmental concerns to gender equality and cultural preservation. The creativity displayed across colleges and schools reveals a generation deeply engaged with both social issues and artistic expression.
