● Kolkata Uchchhas, a DB Block-based dance group celebrated Independence Day with an online dance contest. Named Bivongo, the contest was announced a month in advance and dancers recorded their videos and sent them in for judgement.

“This was the first time we tried something like this but were delighted to get about 70 entries,” said Sonali Basak, founder of Kolkata Uchchhas. The theme was patriotism and it was open to all dance forms. Some entries gave it a classical touch, some danced to evergreen songs like Dhan dhanyo pushpe bhora and yet some more danced to recent Bollywood numbers like Aye watan (Raazi).

“After being locked down for months, this contest came as a breath of fresh air. I was all the more excited as the registration fee would go to charity. I shrugged off my lethargy and asked my dance teacher Puloma Sen to help me prepare a dance,” said Shirin Anwar, a resident of Falguni Abasan who is waiting to take admission in college.

The judges included Susmita Nandi Sethia, who runs the Kalapi dance school in BB Block, Roshmi Bandopadhyay, who runs Vorot Nritya School of Dance at Vidyasagar Niketan and Sreemoyee Kaushiki Basak Dey, who is a dance teacher at Salt Lake School. “It was a treat for us judges to watch so many different kinds of presentations. It was tough choosing the winners but we enjoyed it,” said Sreemoyee.

The videos were shared on Facebook by the organisers from August 15 and the results were announced on a Facebook “live” session where the judges and participants logged in. There was even a participant from as far away as Canada — Diya Das. The winner was Sibayan Ganguly from Bhowanipore.

“Another reason this contest drew such robust participation is because the proceeds are going towards Amphan relief,” said Esha Goswami, secretary of Inner Wheel Club of Salt Lake Down Town, that handed over the money as ration to 50 needy families. Goswami runs the dance school Tarana Nritya and was one of judges of the contest too.

A young dancer dressed as Bharatmata in the Independence event by Gulabi Gang Sourced by the Telegraph

● Swadhinata Tumi was the theme of the online Independence Day event organised by Gulabi Gang, a ladies club of DB Block. Mahua De Sarkar began by quoting from a poem by Shamsur Rahman and little Sharanya Mitra danced to Des rangila from the movie Fanaa.

Mother-daughter duo Mousumi and Amisha Saha presented the song Bharat anokha raag hai, Rinku Banerjee recited Shamsur Rahman’s Tomake paoar jonyo je swadhinata and Anjana Banerjee recited Swadhinatar Mane.

“Though I’m cooped up with my daughter in Gurgaon since February, while performing today I felt like I was in DB Block community hall,” smiled Indrani Basak, who along with daughter Somdatta Basak presented Tagore’s vision of future India, as showcased in his poem Prarthona.

Lakshmimoni Sen, another club member stuck in Bangalore, recited Harivanshrai Bachchan’s poetry.

A group called Panchojonyo presented a colourful depiction of women leaders down Indian history. Chandrani Mukherjee played the role of Rani Lakshmibai, De Sarkar played Annie Basant, Mou Dubey played Sarojini Naidu, Banerjee Matangini Hazra and Sonali Basak danced to the patriotic number Dhan dhanya pushpe bhora.

Towards the end, young Sharanya appeared dressed as Bharat Mata and everyone sang the national anthem in chorus.

● Ever since I was a child, I never missed listening to the song Tobu mone rekho in Tagore’s own voice, played on the radio on Baishey Srabon. But this year owing to the pandemic I missed hearing it,” lamented Swati Sanyal, a resident of Vidyasagar Abasan.

The septuagenarian was attending an online event centred around Tagore’s death anniversary. It was organised by the HA Block-based Paritosh Sen Memorial Elderly Care Society and Sanyal, in fact, sang the inaugural song Achhe dukhkho achhe mrityu.

Other members followed suit. Tripti Chakraborty sang another Rabindrasangeet, Sunil Das recited Amar chetonar rongey and his wife Bani Das sang Dhaay jeno mor.

Hardly an online event passes without technological issues these days and this show was no exception. Col (retd) Amit Banerjee was visible as he sang Jayo tobo bichitro anando but not audible as his sound button got muted. Chhobi Ghosh was announced as the upcoming performer but she simply could not connect due to network disturbance, so Nupur Ganguli Ghosh presented Sandhya holo go maa before her.

The senior-most member, Ratish Ranjan Bhattacharjee, 94, recited Anjali, Amit Banerjee was requested for an encore and readily sang a monsoon number and Amal Laha, who has recently enrolled in the society, performed Anandodhara bohichhe.

“I am not really a singer but watching everyone else perform, I too developed an urge to sing,” said Laha. “I am associated with a audit firm but am confined indoors during the lockdown so am keeping busy with cultural activities.”

“This is the 10th year of our society and despite the lockdown we are trying to keep members engaged with online events,” said founder and secretary of the society Sarmishta Sen Das. The society provides medical, social and legal help to members.”

She also mentioned their Suraha project, whereby members have adopted marginalised senior citizens living in the slums behind Ruby General Hospital and how they have been tending to their needs even during the lockdown.