Many schools in Kolkata declared a holiday on Monday in anticipation of the Trinamool Congress‘s Martyrs’ Day rally, which is expected to draw thousands of people.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to address the gathering at Esplanade around 1 pm, but people will arrive in the city early in the morning. The TMC has been organising the annual mega rally for the last 15 years outside Victoria House in Esplanade in the heart of Kolkata to commemorate the deaths of 13 people who were killed in police firing during a demonstration by the West Bengal Youth Congress, which was then led by Banerjee, on July 21, 1993.
Loreto House, Loreto Convent Entally, St James’ School, The Heritage School, Loreto Day School Sealdah, Loreto Day School Elliot Road, Loreto Day School Dharamtala, and Loreto Day School Bowbazar will remain closed.
La Martiniere Schools Boys and Girls, Birla High School, Sushila Birla Girls’ School, and Birla High School Mukundapur will hold online classes. South Point will have online classes up to Class 5. According to an official, Classes 6 and above have a parent-teacher meeting that ends by 11.30 am.
According to some teachers, a decision will be made later on whether to hold classes on a Saturday to make up for the Monday classes.
La Martiniere announced that due to the rally, all classes from the lower nursery to Class 12 will be conducted online. Additionally, the unit test for classes 6 to 12 that was originally scheduled for Monday will now take place on Tuesday.
Parents have welcomed the decision to keep schools closed on Monday. In the past, it has frequently been observed that students arrive home around 4.30 pm or even later due to these traffic jams. Many children get restless when they have to wait for long periods on the bus.
Debika Burman, whose daughter studies in Loreto House, said, “It is a good decision because otherwise we also get very worried as to when she will reach home. It becomes very stressful for all.”
Anandi Jain, whose son is a student at La Martiniere Boys, said that her son once got stuck in traffic for over three hours. “I am happy with this decision because previously, once my son, when he was a child, had a traumatic experience of being stuck in traffic jam for hours, after that, I avoided sending him to school on this day.”
The Calcutta High Court Friday directed that all processions heading to the TMC’s rally at central Kolkata’s Dharmatala on July 21 must reach the venue by 8 am or after 11 am to ensure the smooth flow of traffic through Central Kolkata during rush hour.
On Thursday, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, in a verbal observation, also urged the TMC to choose a different venue for the ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally from next year, such as Shahid Minar, the Brigade Parade Ground, or the Salt Lake Stadium.