Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar Takes to the Stage, Plays Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a Play

New Delhi, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has stirred discussions by stepping away from his political duties to act on stage. This move is particularly notable in West Bengal, a region renowned for its rich cultural traditions. While many politicians have engaged in the arts, few have pursued such interests while actively involved in politics. However, this is not entirely unprecedented in Bengal’s history.

More than two decades ago, another Bengali minister, Ajit Panja, gained fame for portraying Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in the play “Nati Binodini.”

On Sunday, Majumdar took on the role of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a play titled “Kesari Hatya.” This production is based on the life and death of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS). In addition to his acting role, he also served as the narrator of the play.

Majumdar shared with the media that he accepted the role after it was offered to him, reflecting on the latent desire for acting that exists within every Bengali.

Senior journalist Soumya Bandopadhyay, who has covered state news for nearly half a century, noted, “Aside from Ajitda and Sukantababu, I can’t recall any other central minister from West Bengal who has acted in a play. However, I do remember Subrata Mukherjee and, more recently, Bratyabasu, who have performed in both theater and cinema.”

Subrata Mukherjee (1946-2021) was a veteran politician from West Bengal, having served as a senior leader in the Congress Party and later the Trinamool Congress. He held various positions, including that of Cabinet Minister, and was known for his organizational skills and long political career spanning over five decades. He also served as the Mayor of Kolkata and played a significant role in the state’s politics.

Bratyabasu, 57, has been a minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, although neither Mukherjee nor Basu served as central ministers, and their acting talents were already well-known.

Agreeing with Bandopadhyay, fellow journalist Gautam Hor remarked that a passion for theater often draws individuals from various professions into amateur acting. He emphasized, “Anyone who loves theater can perform on stage, but doing so while holding a ministerial position is truly special. It requires a significant time commitment, especially for rehearsals.”

According to Majumdar, rehearsals took place amidst his official responsibilities, and he participated whenever he found the time.