Central Kolkata transformed into an ocean of disciplined defiance on Sunday, September 19, as thousands of young activists flooded the streets for a mammoth Inquilab Rally. Organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) West Bengal State Committee, the massive mobilisation sent an unequivocal message to the ruling establishment: the Left youth movement refuses to back down in the face of state intimidation, political attacks, or administrative hostility.

RECLAIMING THE CITY

The rally was steeped in the revolutionary legacy of Bhagat Singh, marking the centenary of his Naujawan Bharat Sabha. When the state administration nervously denied permission to host the gathering at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, the DYFI did not retreat. Instead, they claimed Dharmatala — the very pulse of the city. Braving intermittent rain, sweltering heat, and the glaring surveillance of police and political operatives, a sea of youth energy reclaimed the streets to demand the essentials of a dignified life: food, education, employment, and the unwavering protection of democratic rights.

This was a mobilisation of the working class and the marginalised. Processions poured in from Sealdah, Howrah, and Park Street, drawing activists from the farthest corners of the state, including Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, Bardhaman, and the 24 Parganas. During the intense campaign leading up to the rally, the youth found resounding solidarity from civil society, with acclaimed actors Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Supriyo Dutta, and Chandan Sen, alongside renowned mountaineer Piyali, publicly appealing to the masses to join the Inquilab program.

"FIRST, WE DEMAND FOOD"

The cultural and political program opened with a stirring inaugural song by Ria Dey, setting a tone deeply rooted in the traditions of India’s freedom movement. Across the gathering, the red flag flew shoulder-to-shoulder with the national flag. The crowds proudly hoisted posters of Bhagat Singh, Pritilata Waddedar, Sukanta Bhattacharya, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, and Vidyasagar—a deliberate reclamation of Bengal’s composite cultural heritage and India’s pluralistic struggle for independence.

The heart of the rally lay in the everyday realities of working people. In a profoundly moving moment, Ajibor Mondal—a farmer from Kishorpur village in Nadia, who has captured widespread attention for reciting poetry while toiling in his fields—took the stage. Bringing the agrarian struggle directly to the urban center, Ajibor recited poet Saikat Amin's Third World Poetry. As he delivered the powerful opening lines, “If you ask me about freedom, I will first say food,” the fundamental question of hunger and rural distress resonated through the massive crowd, bridging the gap between agricultural labor and youth unemployment.

THE ‘DOUBLE ENGINE’ DECEPTION

Former youth leader Minakshi Mukherjee delivered a searing critique of the state's economic collapse, noting that a ‘double engine’ government has come to power. "Many thought there would be development. Instead, we see them selling off the railways and laying off BSNL workers. The Trinamool locked up the schools in the state, and the BJP is locking up schools across the country. Will they provide employment? Trusting them means getting deceived," she said.

Mukherjee stated that the establishment's true colors have been fully exposed. Cattle markets are shut down, hawkers have been deprived of their livelihoods, and the price of sugar has skyrocketed. "Now they are dictating that the term Sharodotsav (The Autumn Festival) cannot be used, and they shall not allow our bookstalls to be set up near puja pandals. If the sale of books goes down, the sale of liquor will up. Therefore, the struggle must continue even through selling books," she asserted. Emphasising that the fight is to save the country and overhaul government policies, Mukherjee declared the gathering a preparation to fight neo-fascism, demanding that employment opportunities be created right here on the soil of West Bengal.

EXPOSING THE COMMUNAL DIVIDE

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Mohammed Salim tore into the failing police administration and the toxic political environment. He demanded answers for broken electoral promises regarding jobs and education, warning against the ruling class's deliberate tactic of using religious identity to fracture mass movements. Salim invoked Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his comrade Abid Hasan to remind the youth that the slogan Jai Hind was born of a united, secular India—a stark contrast to today’s communal divisions.

Calling upon the youth to stand as a bulwark for farmers and vulnerable communities, former DYFI State Secretary Abhas Roy Chowdhury remarked, "This government gets troubled just by hearing the word 'Azadi' (freedom) because the RSS had kept itself away from the freedom struggle. Instead, they sowed divisions to break the united fight. It is only natural that they will burn with rage upon hearing it."

Addressing the DYFI activists directly, he added, "You are the heirs of Bhagat Singh, Pritilata Waddedar, Khudiram, and Subhas Chandra Bose. They fought against imperialism, and obviously, this BJP-RSS will have a problem just hearing their names." Roy Chowdhury further observed that the Trinamool had actively enabled the BJP's rise in the state, stressing that as long as there is exploitation, Leftism will endure.

PROTECTING THE REPUBLIC

Bhattacharya noted that the student and youth movements have instilled deep fear in the ruling class, leading to protesters being labeled as 'Dimagi Naxals' (intellectual Naxals). "In reality, the rulers have realized that the students and youth of the country stand united against the government. This government will not be able to survive by dividing people on the basis of religion."

DYFI State President Ayananshu Sarkar reinforced this, stating, "This rally sends a clear message that we must protect the Bengal of Rabindranath and Nazrul. They are shutting down schools, and job seekers are still protesting on the streets. People from all walks of life must be protected from the hands of this BJP."

State Secretary Dhrubajyoti Saha concluded the speeches by connecting the day's struggle to history: "The Naujawan Bharat Sabha was formed during the freedom struggle. The Inquilab Rally is being held to commemorate its centenary. We are organising this rally because we are the true heirs of Bhagat Singh."

In a powerful reaffirmation of constitutional values, the leadership released a poster set titled “We, the People of India,” featuring Dr B R Ambedkar and the Constitution, alongside a new youth bulletin. The Inquilab Rally made one thing absolutely clear: the demands for a livelihood and a future transcend all engineered social divisions, and the youth of Bengal are prepared to fight for them, street by street.