Annual Bulletin

Director / President's Note Since 2004, Purba Paschim beginning to roll, the philosophical base has been leading us in making better productions, arranging theatre workshops, seminar, exhibition, social awareness with our artists, members along with reputed theatre personalities, artistes, writers of fame, who have been interacted with us. Apart, every year we are publishing an Annual Theatre Magazine with rich contents and photographs. We also have been able to hold the Twelveth Annual Theatre Festival in November 2019. We are happy to revive this year one of our remarkable production ‘Potol Babu Film Star’ and this production had visited Darshana, Bangladesh in Anirban Theatre Festival along with other shows. It is needless to mention that with the revival of this production we have been able to perform more than 180 shows till it's first premiere a decade ago. Moreover, our regular productions 'Ek Mancha Ek Jibon' and 'Athoijol' have simultaneously been performed in different stages both from our end and also invitation. We have invited Mr Manish Mitra, to prepare a workshop based production involving our talents ‘O' Rom Mone Hoi’ and it also have been successfully staged and performed 11 shows. Purba Paschim have been invited in various theatre festival in different states of the country and different parts of West Bengal, amongst Paschimbanga Natya Academy. The most vital thing of our group is getting an invitation to prepare a special production on the Bi Centenary of Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar specially his meeting with Sri Ramakrishna Dev. Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre invited Purba Paschim and ‘ Yugo Drashta’ (Man of the Epoch) written by Ujjwal Chattopadhyay and directed by Soumitra Mitra was staged at EZCC auditorium in Kolkata. It is long awaited programme of Ministry of Culture and we believe that this small production will be showcased after this pandemic situation. At the time we were preparing for a workshop in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Academy and rehearsal for new production, the Pandemic which has been shivering the World and simultaneous lockdown which stopped the work clock of the universe affected the theater severely like all other cultural wings. And, we had to stop and to watch the situation. Our passion, theatre stopped, but our vision, our founding philosophy helped us to be active in work and with the masses . And, so more involvement with social response . As Purba Paschim always think and actively work for people, this year the standstill situation due to Covid 19 pandemic and worklessness of the people has led us to stand beside the theatre activists, specially those who are dependant fully on theatre for their livelihood. So Purba Paschim Fund For Covid -19 for Theatre Activists" has been created with the help of our friends and well-wishers and we have been financially helping 30 persons regularly every month with the determination to continue throughout this critical year. And, then the sudden attack of ' Amphan', the devastating super Cyclone wrecked our state and the harshness of it throughout the state again has involved us to move to those homeless people ignoring the red eye of Corona virus . We have tried to reach to some people at least with our limited capacity and with the benevolent hands of our friends again. We have not stopped, we are stepping ahead. We express our special thanks and gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India for their continuous support in the form grants for keeping our theatre activities in roll . We are thankful to Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Govt of West Bengal for their cooperation and to Media for their concern with Purba Paschim. We express our thanks to Sri Bratya Basu Minister & thespian, noted actor Sri Debshankar Halder & Sri Sanjib Sarkar for their constant support and concern for Purba Paschim. We express our gratitude to the corporate houses who came forward in need . we would like to thank EZCC,Kolkata for their active cooperation. And obviously we would like to express our warm thanks and gratitude to those who are with us for our theatre and for our social activities, without whom we could not think broadly. Soumitra Mitra Covid - 19 & Amphan Chapter Brief Description of Our Relief Activities DAY I 24 May 2020 ; Kolkata: Slum dwellers of North Kolkata and street children were served with food materials and tiffin packets. About 75 families and more than hundred children benefitted. The President of Purbapaschim and important well-wisher Mr Jibon Sen were present in the program among others. Covid -19 relief work in the streets of Kolkata DAY II 31May, 2020 Taki (Hasnabad, North 24 Parganas): A load of full truck packets containing all sorts of raw food materials and dress materials had to reach at a remote village, named Uttar Sulkani under Hasnabad block in an island on the verge of Ichhamoti River and so unloading the truck at Taki, and then boat to cycle van and again walking 1 kilometer was the way out. Ramakrishna Math, Taki prepared a list of 300 families and separately 300 children for tiffin packets. Swami Parishuddha Nanda On the way to Sulkani, North 24 Parganas Maharaj waited for us with his team and anxious villagers. Our team led by Our President and Director Mr Soumitra Mitra, Secretary Mrs Malabika Mitra and renowned actor Mr Debsankar Halder. Besides food materials and dress materials we arranged a lunch with khichdi for 1000 people staying homeless in a relief camp. Moreover lots of ORS, other medicines, suthol, Boroline we have also handed over. Relief Works began from R. K. Mission , Taki, North 24 Parganas People are at queue at the relief place Purba Paschim Secretary distributing Relief DAY III 05 June, 2020 Mandir Bazar (Diamond Harbour SD, South 24 Parganas): We thought differently understanding the explicit need of the Amphan affected people and SDO of Diamond Harbour extended support of his administration. So, We succeeded to arrange for Rs.1000 each for 60 family/person immensely destitute that included mostly physically challenged and above 80 years old. Besides the cash amount dress materials, medicines, suthol, Boroline etc also handed over. Youngs of Purba Paschim succeeded to complete this journey enthusiastically. Mandirbazar , South 24 parganas DAY IV 07 June 2020 Nazat (North 24 Parganas): Again Our President, Secretary , Mr. Debshankar Halder, another famous Artist Mr Sanjib Sarkar and Mr Jayanta Sen, business entepreneur and a well wisher of Purba Paschim came out challenging the restricted life in lockdown in growing covid 19 situation with others of Purba Paschim to reach to the people in distress and Our team at Nazath, North 24 Parganas this time Dakshin Akhratala village near Vebia at Kalinagar Block of Nazath area was our destination under guidance and support of Sri Ramakrishna Sevashram, Nazath. More than seven hundred people still were staying in school premises and we arranged a day's food for them and 1000 litre of mineral water bottles including others like dress materials, medicine, Suthol, Boroline and ORS etc. Revered Swami Abhinnananda Maharaj of Bagbazar, Mayer Bari had supervised the entire relief work. Sri Debshankar Halder and Sri Sanjib Sarkar were with our relief teams all along Relief works by our team at Nazath Relief works by our team at Nazath Women were in queue for relief at Narayananpur Distribution going on at Narayananpur DAY V 10 June 2020 Mathurapur ( South 24 Pargans): Flood water again inundated the village after accute Amphan devastation. It was Narayanpur gram under Nandakumarpur Panchayat in Mathurapur 2 Block. The higher authority Purba Paschim again with Mr Sanjib Sarkar led the team and again we served RS 1000 each to 50 families with dress materials for adult and children and also tiffin packets for children. SDO Diamond Harbour administratrative support was this time also. DAY VI 13 June 2020 Bagbazar Khalpar (Kolkata): This time again in Kolkata. Bagbazar Mayer Bari supported to choose 75 families living on the khal par of the area and we served raw food materials to them including medicine, suthol, boroline etc in the presence of Mr Soumitra Mitra, Swami Abhinnananda Maharaj among others. Bagbazar Khalpar, Kolkata (Covid - 19 Relief) Relief works at Mograhat Block The team at Mograhat block DAY VII 17 June 2020 Magrahat, Diamond Harbour ( South 24 Parganas): Our direct inertaction with the village poor people while visiting for relief work and suggestion from administrave section helped us to realise a few other essential necessity of the poor people at the time of forthcoming rainy season and so we arranged for Mosquito Net, Umbrella, Torch Light, Watar Bucket and Mug for100 families. Our President Mr Soumitra Mitra, Secretary Mrs Malabika Mitra like all other journey this time again accompanied and guided us overcoming all obstacles of journey. Condolence We deeply mourn the sad demise of Bidhan Patra on 30 March 2020 who was a full time theatre worker of Purba Paschim, at a prematured age. A man from remote village of South 24 paraganas came in this city with extreme poverty but with the association of Late Sunil Gangopadhayay he tried to overcome and always keep smiling. He was very much careful in day to day work of our organisation and concerned about every ins & outs. Apart, Bidhan was a regular actor in all productions of Purba Paschim. May his soul be rest in peace. Bidhan Patra Friends & Well-wishers who are with Purba Paschim during relief work For Amphan Relief work, we are indebted to : Purba Paschim Covid 19 Fund

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