Songs sung by police personnel across West Bengal to mark Tagore’s birth anniversary & spread awareness on COVID-19

On Friday morning, Prasenjit Banerjee, SDPO Jangipur, in Murshidabad district – took the microphone in hand and sang a soulful Rabindrasangeet. Not only was it a celebration of the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, but as he moved along the lanes and bylanes of Jangipur, walking with the microphone in hand, people were also asked to stay home and obey lockdown rules to contain the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Other dos and don’ts on COVID-19 were also told to the people.

Banerjee was not the only cop in West Bengal spreading the important message in this unique way. Police personnel across the state marked Rabindra Jayanti by singing Tagore’s songs and spreading COVID-19 awareness messages.

The state government held a programme titled “Kobi Pronam” in all districts and police commissionerates across the state to mark Rabindra Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Tagore. The government had taken the decision to use the occasion to spread awareness on COVID-19 “at important residential areas and housing complexes” between 9 and 11.30 am Friday. According to an order issued by the state’s ADG law and order Gyanwant Singh, “Police personnel who are gifted with interest in music and singing are to be encouraged and mobilised to participate having safety apparels and maintaining social distancing”. Thus many police officers across the state sang Rabindrasangeet and raised awareness on COVID-19.

In Kolkata, chief minister Mamata Banerjee was at Cathedral Road to mark the occasion. The celebration in Kolkata too was unique because this time it was live-streamed from the homes of performers due to the lockdown. The decision was taken to celebrate Tagore’s birth anniversary without flouting social distancing norms.