As is the ritual every year, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s birth anniversary was celebrated once again with a five-day cultural fair in the heart of Howrah town. The 16th Bankim Mela held from June 22 to 26 this year had a variety of colourful programmes to regale audiences through the evenings. This year’s mela celebrated Bankim Chandra’s 178th birth anniversary.  The mela was inaugurated on June 22 by Howrah mayor, Rathin Chakraborty. The mayor’s assurance that the park and the house that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay lived in when he worked in Howrah, would be made into heritage structures delighted many guests and sent a roaring applause from the audience. Many were happy to hear that Bankim Chandra’s visit and stay in Howrah would finally be officially recognised and commemorated. “We have been trying to get heritage status for Bankim Chandra’s house for a long time. At last the mayor has shown his support,” said Nishit Sarkar, the convenor of the fair.  

Some visitors walked into Indranath Barui’s exhibition which was on Bankim Chandra’s stay in Howrah. Court cases that Bankim had fought in Howrah and also some historical facts about the places that Bankim Chandra had visited while he stayed in Howrah were displayed at the fair. “I have gone through various records and archives where I have found that the dates that we know of Bankim Chandra’s postings in Howrah are all wrong. He first came to Howrah as deputy magistrate and deputy collector in 1881, as against 1878 that is known to everyone,” said Barui. 
The small mela within the park had 11 stalls this year. Apart from the stalls by Howrah City Police and the Ministry of Agriculture Marketing, there were interesting handicraft items as well. Jute bags and costume jewellery had some takers among the women guests of the fair. 

Different types of cultural programmes were scheduled through every evening. Students from various schools of Howrah performed in groups. Some little ones had bagged a slot for a solo recitation of a Sukumar Ray poem or sing a song. Solo performers sang Rabindrasangeet and Nazrulgeeti through the days. A kavi sammelan was organised on June 24, where a number of lesser known poets from Howrah gathered at the fair to recite their own works. On June 26, Bankim Chandra’s birthday, a health check up camp will be arranged in the morning at the park.