9 September 2024/

STUDENTS OF TAPAS KUMAR PAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC UNITE FOR JUSTICE THROUGH A POWERFUL MUSICAL PROTEST

On 8 September 2024, at 5 PM, the students of Tapas Kumar Pal Academy of Music united in a powerful protest under the slogan, “No party, no color, we want justice in unity of music,” to stand against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. The event took place in front of the Old Post Office in Kasba Bosepukur, Kolkata, where they gathered to raise their voices against injustice.

Led by their esteemed professor, Tapas Kumar Pal, along with other dedicated teachers and local residents, the students used the universal language of music to convey their message. The protest began with a minute’s silence, followed by a series of heartfelt speeches from Prof. Tapas Kumar Pal, Prof. Chiranjeev Dey, Teacher Mrs. Debashree Goswami, Prof. Mayurika Roy, Academy student Mrs. Pallabita Chakraborty and local residents Mr. Ashok Ghosh and Mr. Subrata Pal.

Their harmonious tunes echoed the sentiment of the protest, emphasizing that justice transcends all boundaries of party and color.

The highlight of the event was a moving performance by a group of musicians, including violinist Pallabita Chakraborty, Sanjay Roy, Ishani Roy, Ashrika Chakraborty, Anup Biswas, Shakyasingh Majumdar, Adrita Ghosh, Rimpa Halder, Prof. Mayurika Roy, Debanshu Naskar, Prof. Chiranjeev Dey and Teacher Debashree Goswami.

The sitar artists, Tapan Banerjee and Anindita Seal, along with Esraj artists Shubhra Dey and Shubhra Majumder, joined the protest. Mangal Das played the tabla and Pankaj Kumar Seal was on percussion.

The ceremony began with a minute of silence, followed by Beethoven’s famous “Ode to Joy.” This was succeeded by a series of evocative performances, including Rabindra Tagore’s “Sakatare Kadiche Oi,” “Alo Amar Alo,” “Sankocher Bhivalta,” and “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal.” The repertoire also featured Poet Dwijendralal Roy’s “Dhandhanya Pushpavara” and Poet Nazrul Islam’s “Karar Oi Louha Kapat.” The ceremony concluded with the playing of India’s national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana.”

Through their united efforts, the students of Tapas Kumar Pal Academy of Music conveyed a powerful message of justice and equality, harmonizing their melodies to echo the call for unity.