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Sunanda Patnaik at the Purbachal Utsav event. Picture by Saradindu Chaudhury
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Chief guest Manoj Mitra did not turn up at this year’s senior citizens’ adda at Purbachal Utsav. The septuagenarian playwright had fallen ill. That spoilt the show for many in the audience.
“I rushed through my household chores so that I could come and hear Mitra. We have staged many of his plays for Puja. I wanted his autograph,” said a disappointed Meeta Basu of Cluster XI when it was announced that Mitra would not attend. Minutes later, she left.
Manjula Sen of Cluster II was two-time unlucky. “Last year I had not been invited to this adda and this year I came only to see him,” said Sen. However she hung on for classical singer Sunanda Patnaik, who took the Purbachal community hall stage in place of Mitra.
Patnaik, a resident of Purbachal, traditionally inaugurates Purbachal Utsav but did the honours at the adda this year instead. She struck a note of disapproval rightaway. “I find the term ‘adda’ derogatory. There are better ways to describe the event such as ashor. I would request the organisers to change the name or else I will not be a part of the event again,” she said.
The 70-strong audience seemed to concur and came forward with suggestions for an alternative name.
Timir Baran Chakraborty of Cluster II offered “milan mela”. “Our get-togethers comprise too many people to qualify as adda. Moreover, a microphone cannot be used in one,” he argued.
While a new name was the focus of discussion, some senior citizens got to recite and sing in between.
“I request the organisers to hold such meets more frequently. We get to make new friends here,” said Chittaranjan Guha, 85, of Cluster III.
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