Name of the Activity: Yakshapurir Shramikjibon – Online Lecture
Type of Activity: Academic Lecture / Commemorative Online Talk
Date/Duration of Activity (from–to): 16 November 2025 (One-day event)
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Details of Resource Person: Prof. Biswajit Ray – Professor of Bengali, Visva-Bharati
No. of Participants: 82 participants

Objective of the Event:
To commemorate 100 years of Raktakarabi and to explore the themes of labour, mechanised production, human dignity, and collective resistance as represented in Tagore’s play, connecting them to wider socio-cultural and philosophical contexts.

Brief Description of the Event:
An engaging online lecture titled “Yakshapurir Shramikjibon” was jointly organised by the Departments of Bengali of The Bhawanipur Education Society College and Lady Brabourne College on 16 November 2025. Prof. Biswajit Ray, Professor of Bengali at Visva-Bharati, delivered an insightful lecture analysing the complex intersection of labour, mechanised production, and human dignity in Tagore’s Raktakarabi. He discussed the exploitation of miners, the metaphor of “time-theft,” and the gradual emergence of collective resistance. Drawing parallels with Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, he illuminated how Tagore’s concerns resonate with global discourses on labour and modernity. The session saw active participation, with 82 attendees engaging attentively throughout.

Outcome of the Event:
The event deepened participants’ understanding of the socio-economic, aesthetic, and philosophical layers embedded in Raktakarabi. It encouraged critical reflection on labour narratives within literature and strengthened academic engagement with Tagore’s text. The interactive Q&A session further enriched the learning experience and fostered meaningful scholarly dialogue.