Archive · 3 Jun 2025
West Bengal Poets Clash Over State Festival Cancellation
Imagine a big yearly party for poets in West Bengal that the government usually pays for.
This year, the party hasn't happened, which has made some poets upset.
Some think there might be problems like money issues or unfairness.
Others say it's just people with different political views stirring things up.
The head of the group that organizes the party says everything is fine, but some poets are worried about the party being canceled and want to know why.
This party was a way for the poets to show their work, so many are sad to see it not happening.
The annual Kabita Utsav, organized by the West Bengal Poetry Academy, has not been held.
Poets have written to the Chief Minister alleging corruption and nepotism within the Academy.
The chairperson of the Academy denies the allegations, attributing them to political motivations.
A former Secretary of the Sahitya Akademi views the festival's absence within the financial year as its discontinuation.
Poets express disappointment over the loss of a state-sponsored platform and recognition.
- Who
- Bengali poets, the West Bengal Poetry Academy, and the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
- What
- Disagreement over the cancellation or postponement of the West Bengal Poetry Academy's annual Kabita Utsav festival.
- When
- The festival, usually held between January and March, has not occurred, and the last meeting of the academy was in June or July 2024, as of the article's publication date in June 2025.
- Where
- West Bengal, India.
- Why
- Poets are concerned about the festival's discontinuation, citing potential corruption and mismanagement, while the Academy chair dismisses such claims as politically motivated.
Poets' Concerns
Academy's View
Festival Status
Poets' Concerns
The festival not happening this year and the lack of activity in the academy suggests discontinuation, and potentially financial irregularities.
Academy's View
The festival's delay is not a cancellation and is not due to financial mismanagement, the selection of participants is unanimous.
Motivation Behind Concerns
Poets' Concerns
The cancellation is due to corruption, mismanagement, and nepotism.
Academy's View
Allegations of corruption are politically motivated.
- Event
- Kabita Utsav
- Organizer
- West Bengal Poetry Academy
- Frequency
- Annual
- Usual Time
- January to March
- Allegations
- Financial irregularities, corruption, nepotism
- Academy Chair
- Subodh Sarkar
- Poets' Letter Addressee
- Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee