Author: Ashoke Sengupta
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya in Barrackpore commemorated the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with the 27th Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Oration, delivered by noted cultural commentator Prof. Samik Bandyopadhyay. Presided over by Managing Committee President Dr. Shankarkumar Sanyal, the commemorative assembly featured the release of the expanded historical volume ‘Gandhi Parikrama’ and philanthropic contributions supporting the museum’s vocational self-reliance initiatives.
A group of 24 students from the Scout & Guide Group of Howrah Modern School visited the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya in Barrackpore on September 26, 2026. The educational excursion included a guided tour of the museum’s galleries on Mahatma Gandhi and an audio-visual documentary screening on the Indian independence movement.
From October 15, 2026, UPI transactions above ₹2,000 made to merchants will carry a 0.4 percent Merchant Discount Rate (capped at ₹300) to support payment infrastructure and cybersecurity costs. While all person-to-person transfers and 96% of merchant payments remain free with no added cost to consumers, retail bodies like AIMRA have called for a ‘No UPI Day’ protest on October 2, citing steep margin pressures on high-value electronic sales.
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Barrackpore took India’s freedom history beyond traditional gallery walls on September 21, hosting a travelling exhibition titled ‘Mohan to Mahatma’ at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Government College in Rajarhat New Town. Featuring rare letters, charkha replicas, a documentary on Barrackpore’s colonial role, and an interactive quiz, the initiative connected the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi with students and young scholars.
Commemorating the centenary of late Dr. Y. V. S. Murthy (1927–2010), Andhra University and community leaders reflect on the enduring legacy of the chemical engineering visionary and founder of Alkali Metals Limited. Through his namesake campus auditorium and the dedicated work of the Dr. Y. V. S. Murty Charitable Trust, his commitment to human dignity and social welfare remains as vibrant as ever.
Surinder Koli, the prime accused in the infamous 2006 Nithari serial killings who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2025, was found dead in Haridwar on September 18. The incident followed a national seminar in Visakhapatnam where senior jurists and media professionals scrutinized investigative lapses by the CBI and questioned the lack of media follow-up for the victims’ families.
In a startling turn of events, Surinder Koli, the prime accused in the 2006 Nithari serial killings who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2025, was found dead inside his Haridwar tea stall on September 18. The incident closely follows a national seminar in Visakhapatnam where senior jurists and experts scrutinized the press and the CBI over systemic investigative failures that denied justice to victim families.
Kantha Kathan, a six-day exhibition celebrating the living tradition and entrepreneurial evolution of rural Bengal’s Kantha artists, opened at Kolkata’s Lalit Kala Akademi on September 11. Featuring 16 women artisans from Nanoor and Ausgram, the event combines curated retail with design talks and hands-on workshops.
The elections are over, and now the state awaits the formation of a new cabinet. While many are calling the Election Commission or Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar the “man of the match,” much of the responsibility of implementing decisions amid immense pressure was handled behind the scenes by West Bengal’s Additional Chief Electoral Officer, Arindam Niyogi. He spoke to Newscope Bangla Editor Ashok Sengupta.