Why I feel Mamata Banerjee's office may be haunted
Land has memory, they say. Even more so, when there has been shock, trauma and tragedy.
It was October 2013 when West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shifted her headquarters in Kolkata from the age old Writer's Building, to a newly done up 14-storied building in Howrah. She named it Nabanna.
Amidst much fanfare, the blowing of conch shells, hoisting of the tricolour, elaborate security, and guard of honour, the chief minister started her work from her office on the top floor of this building.
However, soon after, trouble started.
News of the Saradha scam and Burdwan blasts broke and the Opposition started tearing into the Trinamool Congress (TMC) state government. Prominent TMC leaders came under investigation by the CBI, the National Investigation Agency and the Enforcement Directorate.
Within a month of the move to Nabanna, TMC MP Kunal Ghosh, known to be close to the chief minister, spoke out about TMC involvement in the Saradha scam.
Within less than six months of the move, when Mamata Banerjee tried her hand at a major gathering in Delhi's Ramlila Grounds, it flopped miserably, and was generally dubbed "the Ramlila fiasco" by press and people, alike.
Almost a year after the move, in September 2014, massive protests struck at the heart of the reputed Jadavpur University, when a young student alleged sexual harassment and in response to protests by students, the then Vice Chancellor (VC) called in the police who were caught on camera lathi-charging and beating students.
While the students continued their protest and demanded the resignation of the VC, the stalemate continued for four months, with neither the state government, nor the students giving way.
Finally, in January 2015, ceding to the mood of the people in the state and the demands of the students, Mamata Banerjee called for the VC to step down.
Perhaps it is no wonder, that TMC sources told the press that despite choosing Nabanna after consulting astrologers and vaastu experts, this new secretariat was proving very "unlucky". Infact, the name itself was chosen after consulting astrologers and the date for shifting in and starting work was also according to their calculations.
Mamata Banerjee is known to be a believer in astrology and her personal astrologer Nemai Banerjee was made executive committee member of the government law college, National University of Juridical Sciences in January 2013.
The interesting thing about Nabanna lies to the left of the building - a three-storey place, which locals believe to be haunted. It was reported that the building was acquired by the then state government during the construction of the flyovers leading towards Mandirtala.
But the strange thing is that it was not demolished at that time, apparently because of rumours that those who tried to demolish the house fell ill. So, there it lay, half-broken and yet standing. In November 2011, the house was turned into the office of the assistant commissioner of traffic after the Howrah Police Commissionerate was set up.
According to locals, in the old days, this area was used as a dumping ground for vehicles that were badly damaged in highway accidents. Apparently, even bodies were dumped there. Unclaimed, unidentified and unknown, battered remains of the dead would sometimes suddenly be found there amongst debris and rubble.
Then, just as Nabanna came into operation, plans were announced for a new building to come up on the site of this old 3-storied house. The bricks would be torn down and the land churned, to make way for a large car parking facility and the office of the newly created DC(SB) of the Howrah Police Commissionerate specially delegated to look after the office of the chief minister next door and visiting dignitaries.
One does wonder, can a place be "unlucky"? Can land have a past which "disagrees" with an inhabitant? Is there something in that land, which is still disturbed and carrying the trauma of the past embedded within it?
And if so, is there something haunting Nabanna - are the TMC sources right to call it "unlucky"?