Kolkata Classrooms Take a Rally Break: Schools Shut Down for TMC Shahid Diwas Drive

Key highlights

 

A majority of premier schools in Kolkata will remain closed or shift to online classes on Monday, July 21, as the city braces for heavy traffic disruptions caused by the annual Trinamool Congress (TMC) Shahid Diwas rally at Dharmatala. This Martyrs’ Day event, attended by lakhs of party workers from across West Bengal, commemorates the 1993 police firing in which 13 Youth Congress workers died—a pivotal moment in TMC’s history.

 

Widespread School Shutdowns and Online Classes

 

Schools completely closed include: St. James’ School, Calcutta Girls’ High School, Pratt Memorial School, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School, The Heritage School, Loreto House, Loreto Convent Entally, Loreto Day Schools (Sealdah, Elliot Road, Dharamtala, Bowbazar).

 

Many leading institutions—La Martiniere for Boys, La Martiniere for Girls, Birla High School, Sushila Birla Girls’ School, Birla High School Mukundapur, Calcutta Boys’ School, Ballygunge Shiksha Sadan—will conduct online classes to avoid logistical chaos.

 

South Point School will offer online classes up to Class 5, while older students will attend a parent-teacher meeting on campus until 11:30 am. Some schools, like Calcutta Girls’ High and St. James’, will compensate for the lost day by holding classes on an upcoming Saturday.

 

Court Directives and Public Response

 

The Calcutta High Court has directed Kolkata Police to ensure no processions block traffic in central Kolkata from 9 am to 11 am and limited processions to before 8 am or after 11 am. Police are deploying additional forces and setting up helplines, but widespread disruptions are still anticipated as thousands converge for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s address.

 

Parents have welcomed the preemptive closures and online transitions, citing previous years when students got stranded for hours in traffic after school. Educators and administrators echo these sentiments, prioritizing student safety amid citywide gridlock.

 

Political Context

 

The 2025 Shahid Diwas rally is seen as particularly significant since it is the TMC’s last major show of strength ahead of next year's Assembly elections. Chief Minister Banerjee herself monitored preparations, acknowledging public inconvenience while criticizing opposition parties for parallel political events.

 

Sources: Deccan Chronicle, WBPay.in, Indian Express