An image from Sudipto Gupta's funeral
Exactly 15 days ago, 23-year-old Sudipto Gupta, an activist of the CPM's student wing, the SFI, died in Kolkata. His friends allege he was fatally beaten by the police. The police claim Sudipto hit his head against a lamp post as he hung out of a bus while being taken to jail after he courted arrest.
The controversy turned bitter when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee first backed the police theory of an accidental death and then went on to say it was a 'small petty matter'.
As thousands gathered at Kolkata's Nazrul Manch on Wednesday to pay homage to Sudipto, sorrow was strongly laced with bitterness at the Chief Minister's words - which Sudipto's friends and colleagues find it difficult to overcome any time soon.
Nazrul Mancha, an open air auditorium at the Dhakuria Lakes, was packed to the brim and spilling over with 4500 to 5000 people with moist eyes and choked throats. A huge picture of Sudipto hung on the stage. A smaller one at one side where people - old and young - lined up to give Sudipto the "lal salaam" or red salute.
When Sudipto's father, Pranab Gupta, came on stage, the audience rose to its feet with the slogan: "Sudipto Gupta
amar rahey". The bereaved father walked to the middle of the stage to a photograph of Sudipto and, turning his back to the audience, and kept kissing it till someone drew him away.
He then picked up his violin and played
"Ami poth bhola ak pothik esheychi" - a Tagore that translates into "I am a wanderer who has lost his way."
There were more songs and many speeches and many memories shared. The most moving: a little story that one of the speakers, an SFI leader, shared.
He said he had chided Sudipto on that fateful Tuesday, April 2, for getting only 19 people to join the SFI rally. "What is this, Sudipto? Only 19 people?" he had said. A somewhat crestfallen Sudipto had replied in a small voice, "
Dada, don't worry, tomorrow I will get so many people, you will be surprised."
"Tomorrow" became the day of Sudipto's funeral, when thousands marched with his body on his last journey. The SFI leader said: "Sudipto had kept his word."