Controversy Erupts Over Allegations of Corruption in West Bengal Poetry Academy
In a bold move, 55 poets and artists have penned an open letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing the West Bengal Poetry Academy of corruption and nepotism. Their grievances stem from the cancellation of the much-anticipated poetry festival, which has left many in the literary community feeling sidelined and frustrated. The academy’s president, poet Subodh Sarkar, has dismissed these allegations as baseless, warning that those making such claims must provide evidence or face consequences.
The situation escalated further when BJP leader Jitendra Tiwari held a press conference, criticizing the state goverment for not awarding Bengali poets and writers despite recognizing the Bengali language as a classical language. He suggested that the cancellation of the poetry festival was rooted in favoritism and financial misconduct within literary organizations. Tiwari’s remarks highlight a growing discontent among artists who feel marginalized for not aligning with government interests, raising questions about the future of artistic expression in West Bengal.
