As Delhi continuous to fight with Covid-19 and the cases increase day by day, an abrupt halt is seen on all the cultural and religious festivals and activities. India's third largest Bengali book fair was postponed due to the virus.
In a telephonic conversation with Barta24.com Tapan Sengupta, General Secretary of Bengali Association, Delhi commented that 'It all depends on the public health and welfare and we certainly hope to bring back the celebration once we are free from the crisis that we are struggling through and once the lockdown is over we have decided to conduct health camps and increase sanitation awareness among others'.
As we all know that due to the lockdown implemented by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, all schools and colleges are shut down till April 14th. When we raised are concerns regarding this to Shantanu Bose, Dean of academic affairs and associate professor at National School of Drama, Delhi, he said 'All the regular classes have been postponed till April 14th and All the Drama festivals scheduled during this period have been postponed as well'.
One of the most popular Bengali cultural organisation in Delhi, 'Impresario India' also raised its concerns regarding issues and has postponed more than 6 programs which were supposed to be held in the month of March-April. In an exchange of words with Alka Mukherjee, Secretary of Impresario India she said 'we have to collectively stand together and not politically take sides destroying the culture of the nation and try not to create disparity among haves and have nots. Leaders have to become less political and more democratic'.
'With an abrupt halt on culture we hope to resume the celebrations soon after the crisis is under control', he added.