If you have Bengalis on your TL, you can't miss their gushing about an early morning radio program called "Mahisashur Mardini". It is sheer magic, if you haven't heard it. But it wasn't free of controversies. A short thread

First, caste! The program centers around the narration of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. People opposed this, as he wasn't a Brahmin! The writer of the program, Banikumar, himself a Brahmin stood up. Threatening cancellation of the program if Birenbabu was replaced

23rd Sept, 1976, Mahalaya. Mahisashur Mardini was not aired. It's place taken by "Debing Durgati Harinim", narrated by Uttam Kumar. Music by Hemanta Mukherjee. Watch the movie "Mahalaya" scripted by the brilliant @mtanmay for the story!

The program had its share of controversies. One leading Bengali daily carried an Op Ed on how brilliant the program was. The edition was out at 6AM while the program ended at 5.30AM that same morning. Paid news is not a new thing!

The wave of criticism of the new program was so large that Mahisashur Mardini was restored next Mahalaya. Pankaj Mallik never forgot the insult. He walked out in rage from the AIR Kolkata Golden Jubilee program even as the then IB Minister LK Advani tried pacifying him.

Things do not change by themselves. Voices have to be raised. Spines must be discovered. Even the most authoritarian regimes have no option but to listen. This Mahalaya, may the good prevail over all evil.