OP-ED: Khela hobe: Game on

In the end, it was Trinamool that most Bengalis reposed their trust in. This is the first of a two-part op-ed

These are exceptionally difficult times for the people of India. A devastating second wave of Covid is extracting a grim daily toll. Social media is awash with cries for help, seeking hospital beds and oxygen cylinders. Yet, on May 2, a piece of news momentarily dispelled for many at least a bit of the gloom.

Results for the recent state assembly elections had just come in, and even after throwing everything it had into the fight, the Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lost by a large margin to the Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In Kolkata on Sunday, there were a few stray fireworks, and even the odd loudspeaker blasting upbeat tunes including the one that had been the slogan and superhit theme song (a dance remix has 21 million hits on YouTube) of Banerjee’s campaign: Khela hobe. Game on.