Kolkata: Left veteran and former Left Front chairperson Biman Bose on Tuesday led a bonphonta event organised by Student’s Health Home, which has held it alongside bhaiphonta since 2025 to challenge patriarchal mindsets and promote gender equality.“Patriarchy has still not disappeared from society. That is why initiatives like bonphonta are extremely important,” Bose said. “The idea has to reach wider sections of society.” He said he learnt of the practice from a book on Bangladesh’s Shahbag movement, where it began and is observed every year on Oct 16.CPM senior and former MP Sujan Chakraborty said Bose had been observing bonphonta for years. “If women can pray for their brother’s wellbeing, why can’t men pray for their sisters?” he asked.Health Home already held bhaiphonta. In the context of the Abhaya movement, Bose advised it to introduce bonphonta to build awareness against violence toward women. From 2025, it has held the event a day before bhaiphonta at its main centre and regional branches.General secretary Pabitra Goswami said the event protested sexual harassment and violence faced by women and highlighted their honour and dignity.
