January 21,2026 Times of Dakshin Dinajpur
Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD. Patiram
Patiram stood still on Wednesday evening as grief flowed through its streets in the form of a candlelit procession. Hundreds of residents, artists and social workers gathered to remember Sanjay Karmakar, one of South Dinajpur district’s most respected cultural activists and a renowned recitation artist, who died by suicide two days earlier.
The mourning procession, organized by the Patiram Spandan Cultural Academy, wound its way through the town’s main roads, participants carrying candles and banners in solemn silence. It concluded in front of the Spandan Patiram Thek, where attendees observed a minute of silence to honor Mr.Sanjay Karmakar’s memory.
What followed was a condolence meeting marked by quiet sorrow and heartfelt tributes. Speaker after speaker recalled Mr.Sanjay Karmakar’s long and committed cultural life — his belief that art carried social responsibility, his tireless efforts to raise public awareness through culture, and his dedication to guiding younger generations toward literature and the performing arts. Many described him as a deeply committed cultural worker who remained devoted to the service of art and society until the very end of his life.
Expressions of grief were accompanied by anger and demands for justice. Speakers called for strict legal action against those allegedly responsible, directly or indirectly, for the circumstances that led to his death.
Mr.Sanjay Karmakar was a founding member of the Spandan Cultural Academy and also a founding member of the platform advocating for the establishment of the Dakshin Dinajpur Government Medical College, a movement aimed at ensuring free and accessible quality healthcare for the district’s poorest residents. Over the years, he remained actively associated with numerous cultural and social organizations across Patiram, Balurghat and the wider district, earning a reputation as one of the region’s most prominent recitation artists.
Meanwhile, the investigation into his death is ongoing. A local court has ordered 14 days of judicial custody for Mr.Sanjay Karmakar’s wife and sister-in-law, while police in Balurghat are continuing their search for his brother-in-law, officials said.
Mr.Sanjay Karmakar’s sudden passing has cast a deep pall over South Dinajpur’s cultural community, leaving behind a silence where a powerful and compassionate voice once stood.
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