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Suvendu Adhikari Targets ‘Sharadotsab’; CPM Defends Bengali Usage
Suvendu Adhikari criticized the word “Sharadotsab” when it is used around Durga Puja.
He said communist groups should use the words “Durga Puja” if they want to operate book stalls near celebrations.
Communist groups often sell books at stalls during the festival.
A linguist said the word “Sharadotsab” existed in Bengali before communism began in India.
He also explained that Sharada is another name for Durga.
Rabindranath Tagore wrote a play called “Sharadotsab” in 1908.
CPM leaders used this example to challenge the chief minister’s criticism.
They also mentioned wording used by broadcaster Birendra Krishna Bhadra.
A CPM leader said the group would still set up book stalls this year.
Suvendu Adhikari urged Durga Puja committees to deny CPM book stalls that use “Sharadotsab” instead of “Durga Puja.”
The chief minister linked the term to communist book-selling stalls during Bengal’s biggest religious-cultural festival.
Linguist Pabitra Sarkar said “Sharadotsab” predates Indian communism and noted that Sharada is another name for Durga.
CPM leaders cited Rabindranath Tagore’s 1908 play “Sharadotsab” and Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s use of related wording.
Sujan Chakraborty said the CPM would continue setting up its book stalls and accept the challenge.
- Who
- West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, CPM leaders, linguist Pabitra Sarkar, and cultural figures cited in the debate.
- What
- Adhikari called for CPM book stalls to be denied space unless they used “Durga Puja” rather than “Sharadotsab”; the CPM opposed the demand.
- Where
- The West Bengal Assembly and Durga Puja venues across West Bengal.
- When
- Thursday, during discussion of the West Bengal Universities and Colleges Administration and Regulation Amendment Bill, 2026.
- Why
- Adhikari objected to what he viewed as the use of a less explicitly religious term by communist groups, while the CPM argued that “Sharadotsab” is an established Bengali expression with older literary and religious associations.
CPM and Cultural Defenders
Suvendu Adhikari and Religious Terminology
Use of “Sharadotsab”
CPM and Cultural Defenders
The CPM and linguist Pabitra Sarkar said the term is an established Bengali expression that predates communism and can also carry a reference to Durga.
Suvendu Adhikari and Religious Terminology
Suvendu Adhikari objected to the term being used instead of “Durga Puja,” arguing that communist groups should identify the festival by its religious name.
Book stalls at Puja venues
CPM and Cultural Defenders
Sujan Chakraborty said the CPM would continue setting up its book stalls and would accept the challenge issued by Adhikari.
Suvendu Adhikari and Religious Terminology
Adhikari urged Durga Puja committees not to permit communist stalls if they did not use “Durga Puja” rather than “Sharadotsab.”
Cultural legitimacy
CPM and Cultural Defenders
CPM leaders cited Tagore’s play and Birendra Krishna Bhadra’s broadcast wording as evidence that related terms are culturally established.
Suvendu Adhikari and Religious Terminology
Adhikari’s remarks treated the term’s use at CPM stalls as part of a broader communist framing of Durga Puja as primarily a cultural event.
Key facts
- Disputed term
- “Sharadotsab,” a Bengali term meaning autumn festivities
- Alternative demanded
- “Durga Puja” on communist book stalls
- Historical literary reference
- Rabindranath Tagore wrote the play “Sharadotsab” in 1908
- Linguistic explanation
- Pabitra Sarkar said Sharada is another name for Durga
- CPM response
- Sujan Chakraborty said the party would set up book stalls again
- Other cultural reference
- Birendra Krishna Bhadra used “sharadopratey” in “Mahisasuramardini”
Quotes
Sujan Chakraborty
Senior CPM central committee member who challenged Suvendu’s warning
“You consider Sanatan Dharma to be merely cultural. You do not say Durga Puja; you call it ‘Sharadotsab’. I will tell all Durga Puja committees that if these so-called communists come to set up stalls and do not write ‘Durga Puja’ instead of ‘Sharadotsab’, do not allow a single stall (to them),”
telegraphindia.com
“We neither write ‘Durga Puja’ nor ‘Sharadotsab’. We write only Pustak Bikray Kendra (book selling centre), but we accept the challenge thrown to us by the chief minister. We will certainly set up a book stalls this year, too. We want to see what happens”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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