Kolkata: It's been nearly three months now that Jihad Hossain of Mashaldanga in Cooch Behar has been living as an Indian citizen. And this autumn he is in Kolkata along with his parents as guests of the Kasba Shakti Sangha Durga Pujo organising committee. Jihad is part of the 10-member team of erstwhile Bangladeshi enclave dwellers who travelled to the city for the first time. And in their honour, the theme of the pujo is a recreation of the Indo-Bangladesh enclaves.
A former enclave dweller said, "They have recreated the Mashaldanga enclave inside Kolkata. It's so similar. Almost like home."
The pandal has already caught a lot of eyeballs and has also been nominated for awards. And that's where both committee members and the former enclave dwellers are planning to cash in to spread a larger message.
Gobinda Sen, Joint Secertary of Kasba Sakti Sangha Puja Committee, said, "The idea is to convey to people who visit our pujo the tremendous hardships the enclave dwellers are in. We hope to communicate to the pandal hoppers what it means to live without a national identity for so many decades."
The enclaves officially do not exist any more. But the hardships of life of people living there very much remain. And it is through efforts like these that organisers are hoping to build a public opinion for things to change for the newest citizens of this country.
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