Latest news with #Chaudhury
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Tripura CPI-M, Tipra Motha Party slam Delhi Police for referring to Bengali as a 'Bangladeshi language'
Synopsis In a heated response, the CPI-M and Tipra Motha Party in Tripura have denounced the Delhi Police's characterisation of Bengali as merely a 'Bangladeshi language.' They passionately asserted that Bengali is an integral part of India's linguistic heritage, enshrined in the Constitution. ANI A Delhi Police verification drive to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants at Shaheen Bagh area, in New Delhi Guwahati: CPI-M and the ruling BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP), on Tuesday, criticised the Delhi Police for referring to Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language".Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, who is also the Tripura CPI-M Secretary, said that Bengali language (also known as Bangla language) is one of the 22 Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian added, "In Northeast India, there are many languages with more than 200 dialects. One should not be identified with his language. Due respect must be given to all people irrespective of his mother tongue and culture.'He added that the way Delhi Police presented the matter is most unfortunate and there is no language in the world as "Bangladeshi language".Chaudhury, also a CPI-M Politburo member, told the media that Bengali is the second most spoken language in India after Hindi. The Left leader alleges that hate activities against Bengali language and speakers in BJP-ruled states are often reported."The national anthem of India was written in Bengali, and now the language is being insulted," he has been an outcry after a letter from a Delhi Police Inspector at the Lodhi Colony police station -- seeking a translator for the "Bangladeshi language" in connection with a matter at Banga Bhawan (the guest house of the West Bengal government in national capital) -- went viral on social use of the term "Bangladeshi language" to refer to Bangla sparked strong protests and criticism in Tripura, Assam and other ally TMP also criticised the Delhi Police for terming Bengali language as "Bangladeshi language".TMP Supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma said that it is most unexpected to refer Bengali language as a 'Bangladeshi language' by the Delhi Police."Today it is Bengali, tomorrow it can be any other language. There is no such thing called Bangladeshi language. People of Bangladesh also spoke in Bengali language. The Bengali language also has different dialects," Debbarma told the media. He said: "We should not forget that our national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' was originally composed in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore. In our Northeast region there are many languages with more than 200 dialects. People should be respectful of each other's languages."
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Hindustan Times
At India's No-Agenda Spaces, read, laze, lounge in a stranger's home
It isn't often one has the chance to simply be, with no agenda, no demands on one's time or presence, no one even asking what you're up to. Meghna Chaudhury home is 'open' five days a week, from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. In urban-planning jargon, a space where one can unwind in this manner is, of course, called a third place (after home and work). A park or waterfront, a library or even a local café can typically serve this function. The idea is that one should be able to walk in alone, unannounced, with no need for small talk, and simply relax from the pressures and demands of the day. There aren't many spaces like this in urban India. Parks can feel unsafe, especially if one isn't a man. Lounging or 'loitering' can invite stares or worse. Earlier this year, Meghna Chaudhury, 36, decided to do something about this. In January, the mental-health advocate (she is pursuing a Master's degree in global mental health) declared her home in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, a No-Agenda Space. The 'anti-performance', 'anti-small-talk' environment is now 'open' five days a week, from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Slots must be reserved in advance, and ID shown at the door (for safety reasons). After that, one may walk in silently if one chooses, read on the couch, lounge in the balcony, even grab a snack from the 'food box' in the kitchen. Her dog Millimeter has been excited to welcome visitors, but one may choose to ignore her if one pleases. About 200 books sit on shelves, up for grabs. There are art supplies too. But many people simply come in, sit down and do nothing, enjoying a little quiet time by themselves, Chaudhury says. Slots can be booked via a Google Docs link available in her Instagram bio (@meghnachaudhury). Identity proof must be sent in via SMS before the address is shared. This, and a fee of ₹ 80, are all the precautions Chaudhury has taken. (Also, the space is not currently open to men.) 'It's insane how worried everybody was. I was only ever worried about protecting my headspace, but honestly people have been outstanding. Everybody respects my boundaries,' she says. At the heart of her initiative was a mission to enable asymmetrical relationships in a transactional world, Chaudhury says. This has been a joy to witness, she adds. 'Women who live nearby and met here have started to meet socially. Visitors have thanked me with handwritten notes. I wish people gave me more handwritten notes. I love them,' she says. In an even-more-heartening development, four women across Bengaluru, and one in Mumbai, have already followed in her footsteps. Financial consultant Mugdha Cheemakurthy has hosted No Agenda Thursdays in Domlur since April 10. She asks that people contribute to the space via money or via snacks, trinkets or tiny items of home decor. Since March 25, tax consultant Parul Jain in Bommanahalli has invited strangers in, free (her space is also not currently open to men). Vidhu Vinod, 35, a marketing and strategy executive, opened up her home in Kaggadaspura in March. She isn't charging a fee yet but is considering asking visitors to donate to her favourite NGO, Hold My Paws. In Mumbai, nutritionist and personal trainer Shruti Jahagirdar has been inviting women in every Sunday since April 6. Each of these women has cited Chaudhury as their inspiration. 'I think this kind of space is so utterly simple and necessary,' Vinod says. Chaudhury hopes more will emerge over time. 'Today's world is so rushed. I hope that when people enter these spaces, they can live for a bit on a clock or pace of their choice. Things are also so transactional,' she adds. 'Here, the transaction is simply to care.'
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tripura CPM flays vandalism over Congress leader Roy Barman's remark about BJP: ‘What kind of rule of law is this?'
A day after BJP activists broke open the MLA Hostel's gate in Agartala demanding the resignation of Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman over his 'BJP leaders urinate on tribals' remark, Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury targeted Tripura's ruling party on Thursday over rule of law and democratic rights. 'I have seen Sudip Roy Barman's statement…The photo had gone viral. We don't know whether any action has been taken against them. Did he (Sudip Roy Barman) commit any mistake by saying this? If it is a mistake, then you reply either through a press conference or a public meeting, or reply to him or his party,' the CPM MLA said. Citing incidents of CPM workers being attacked, Chaudhury said his party's office was attacked at Bishalgarh on June 17 and that an attempt had been made to 'foil' a CPM conference at Takarjala in Sepahijala district on Tuesday. 'What kind of democracy is this? What kind of rule of law is this? It's unfortunate,' he said. 'If a party has some flaws, naturally another party will criticise it. If a statement is untrue, the other party will make this clear or condemn the statement. This is our country's political culture. Our democracy and our Constitution allow this,' the CPM leader added. Chaudhury emphasised that the state must protect constitutional rights, human rights, and natural rights. Sudip Roy Barman's controversial remark referred to an incident in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district where a purported BJP activist, Pravesh Shukla, urinated on a member of the Kol tribe last year. Defending his remark, Barman said on Wednesday that he had merely stated a fact. 'The reality is that the BJP hates Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBC, minorities, etc. How else can someone urinate on another person?' he added.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tripura CPM leader Jitendra Chaudhury draws BJP ire for ‘the taller one is, the dumber one is' remark
Tripura Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath criticised Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury on Tuesday for his remark that 'the taller one is, the dumber one is' and demanded the CPM MLA apologise for allegedly body-shaming tall people. 'He directly insulted tall people. He should apologise in public if he made the statement in sound condition. Or else, I will ask his party leaders to arrange for his immediate treatment,' said Lal, a senior BJP leader. Chaudhury's remark, made during a political gathering at Harina in South Tripura on Monday, touched a raw nerve with the ruling BJP, given that the party's MP Biplab Kumar Deb, who is tall and a fitness enthusiast, would often face sharp jibes from the CPM over some of his controversial comments when he was the chief minister. The Leader of the Opposition did not name anyone, though. Reacting to Chaudhury's remark, Lal cited the examples of several eminent people such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Rabindranath Tagore, Satyajit Ray, Bengali actor Soumitra Chattopadhyay, wrestler Satpal Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, cricketer Ishant Sharma, Odisha's former chief minister Biju Patnaik, and Tripura's longest-serving chief minister Manik Sarkar. The BJP minister said Chaudhury insulted all these people with his remark and that he implied they were not intelligent. Lal further said Chaudhury was dropped from former chief minister Sarkar's cabinet over his alleged involvement in a ginger scam that took place during Left Front rule, adding that a file had been maintained documenting the CPM leader's alleged misdeeds.
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bulldozers arrive in Assam village as drive to evict over 600 families from wetlands begins
The Assam government Monday launched a massive drive to evict over 600 families from a 1,550-bigha wetland area in Goalpara district. The eviction and demolition of homes began with heavy security deployment on Monday morning in Goalpara district's Hasila Beel village, where most of the residents are Bengali-origin Muslims. Goalpara DC Khanindra Chaudhury, who oversaw the eviction drive, said the residents had been illegally encroaching on government land. 'This is actually a wetland, and we had issued notices both in 2023 and 2024 to the illegal encroachers to vacate the area themselves. Some people still had not left, and on Friday, we issued notices again. Almost 20-25% of the people have left by themselves,' he told reporters. The administration has estimated that 667 houses would be evicted. However, the drive was not completed on Monday as it was hampered by rain in the afternoon. 'It has been peaceful and there has been no resistance,' said Chaudhury. Suleman Ali (50), whose house was demolished on Monday, expressed distress at the lack of rehabilitation arrangements. He said his family had been living on this land for over 70 years and that he had been born there. 'The demolitions started two days after the notice was given, which is not enough time to gather all our belongings and make arrangements. We had a pucca house here. The children have exams in a few days. They are in terror now, and I am very worried about their future. We stood in the rain for two hours after they demolished our house, and now the police have told us not to set up any kind of tent or shelter here. I don't know where we will spend the night. There should have been some kind of rehabilitation arrangement for us, we are completely landless people,' he said. Leaders of the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) arrived at the site on Monday afternoon. AAMSU president Rejaul Karim Sarkar also said there should have been a proper rehabilitation plan. 'The Supreme Court has already given guidelines that people cannot be evicted in this way without rehabilitation. If they are given notices one day and the bulldozers are operated the next day, the people will not be able to gather all their belongings and leave. These people are all from Goalpara, who have been living here for 50-60 years after being affected by river erosion in riverine areas. The government's first responsibility was to come up with a rehabilitation plan for them or to give them some time,' he said.
