Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Saugata Roy</span>, politician, on how he plans to celebrate the Pujas this year<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What are your plans for the Pujas?</span><br /><br />My plan is to spend a low-cost holiday mostly at home. Starting from Monday till Wednesday, I will be very busy in inaugurating nearly 100 Pujas.The best part is that there will be no political assignments like administrative meetings and rallies during these days. So I will try to take as much rest as possible during this time. I will also try to catch up on my reading. I believe that this is a vital time for developing public relations. And I will try to make the most of it.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why do you think that Pujas is a vital time for public relations?</span><br /><br />No matter which part of the world a Bengali might be in, Pujas bring them together — physically or through nostalgia. This is the time to socialise in style. As a politician, it’s my duty to feel the pulse of my people. And you meet the largest cross-section of people during the Pujas. Inaugurating Pujas also gives me a chance to meet people. Talking to them helps me to update myself and do my homework properly.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Does that leave any time for your near ones?</span><br /><br />Plenty. As I told you before, I look upon these days to spend a quiet holiday. I visit my relatives whom I hardly find time to visit during the rest of the year. I also pay a visit to my neighbours. And that, I must tell you, is also part of what I believe to be public relations. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Are you associated with your parar pujo?</span><br /><br />I am not directly associated with any Durga Puja. But I visit some Puja pandals. I visit my parar pujo at Bangur Park and also try to give them as much support as possible.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Do you have plans to read the magazines released during Pujas?</span><br /><br />Yes, of course. I want to read some good novels as well as the Puja issues. But nothing has been decided yet. </div> </div>