Archive · 20 Sep 2026
ABVP Observes Bengali Language Day, Remembers Darivit Students Killed
The ABVP held events in Kolkata to celebrate the Bengali language.
The group also remembered Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman.
The two students died during a 2018 protest at Darivit High School.
The protest began after disagreements about which teachers should be appointed.
The ABVP says the students died because of police firing.
Other investigations and political discussions have questioned that claim.
The Calcutta High Court ordered a National Investigation Agency investigation in 2023.
The ABVP wants September 20 to be officially recognized as Bengali Language Day.
It also plans to organize language and culture programmes at colleges and universities.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad held Bengali Language Day programmes at several Kolkata locations on Sunday.
The events commemorated Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman, who died during protests at Darivit High School in September 2018.
The ABVP alleges the students were killed in police firing, but that claim has been contested during investigations and political debates.
The Calcutta High Court ordered a National Investigation Agency investigation into the deaths on May 10, 2023.
The ABVP plans to seek official recognition for September 20 as Bengali Language Day and hold related programmes across campuses.
- Who
- The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad organized the programmes and remembered Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman.
- What
- Bengali Language Day events, a memorial march, and demands for an impartial investigation were held.
- When
- The programmes were held on Sunday; the students died in September 2018, and the court ordered an investigation on May 10, 2023.
- Where
- Events took place in Kolkata, including College Street, Shyambazar, Hazra and Jadavpur University; a march was held from Darivit High School to a memorial in Islampur.
- Why
- The ABVP aimed to promote Bengali language, literature and culture while commemorating the two students and seeking accountability for their deaths.
ABVP’s allegations and demands
Contested account and investigation
Cause of the students’ deaths
ABVP’s allegations and demands
The ABVP alleges that Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman were killed in police firing during the Darivit protest.
Contested account and investigation
The police-firing claim has been contested during investigations and political debates; the articles do not establish a final determination.
Accountability for the deaths
ABVP’s allegations and demands
The ABVP is demanding a speedy and impartial state-government probe and legal action against those responsible.
Contested account and investigation
The Calcutta High Court directed the National Investigation Agency to investigate the deaths in a case involving alleged firing and bombing.
- Organiser
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS
- Commemorated students
- Rajesh Sarkar and Tapas Barman
- Deaths
- September 2018, during protests at Darivit High School
- Protest issue
- Disagreement over teacher appointments, including Urdu and Sanskrit teachers
- Court action
- The Calcutta High Court ordered a National Investigation Agency probe on May 10, 2023
- Proposed observance
- The ABVP wants September 20 officially recognized as Bengali Language Day
- Future programmes
- A week of Bengali Language Day-related events was planned across campuses from September 21