I hope we all learn from Chitra Divakaruni’s letter how wrong and demeaning it is for an organization like NABC when they start differentiating among artists on whatever basis. I am not denouncing every single organizer here as I am sure that many of you are conscientious and worked long and hard to make this Bango Sammelan a success, but I deeply resonate with Ms. Divakaruni’s hurt feelings and as an organization, you made some really unjust decisions. The meal area on the 7th floor of Manhattan center had big warnings posted, something like - only for non-US artists. So for a cup of tea, one of our Kolkata-based artists sneaked in 6 cups of tea in styrofoam cups for us, the US-based members participating in the same drama The Kolkata artists felt bad to drink tea without us and we felt cheap. I tried to make it light saying “it’s the reverse NRI effect. We are making special arrangements for non-locals.” In reality, I am disgusted to receive or to provide class-based priviledges. At the registration area, special arrangements were made for non-US artists. In dollars and cents, did it make any difference? Surely such treatments made a big dent to NABC’s prestige. NABC should do a post-mortem assessment of what they did well and what they did wrong by some unbiased people and asking for comments from people who attended. We should not let cheap, stupid, and ugly decisions of a few, however bigwigs, mar the long, arduous, and sincere efforts of many dedicated ones who gave their time voluntarily days in and out, nights in and out, taking time from their work and family.

From another person who was made to feel like a “bhikhiri in a biyebari” (quoting from Chitra Divakaruni)

Bashu Das

Ph: 732-949-9175 (office); 732-735-1748 (Mobile)
kdas@lucent.com