Padma Shri artist Sanatan Rudra Pal performs Chokkhudaan for Goddess Durga at Kolkata’s Shimla Byayam Samiti.The Shimla Byayam Samiti marks 100 years of Sarbajonin Durga Utsav with the theme “Revolutionary Shrine of Swadeshiyana,” saluting Bengal’s freedom spirit and the nationalist flame carried from Netaji to countless unsung heroes.
Late Atindra Nath Bosu, who on one hand established Simla Byayam Samity, in the year 1926, introduced the first Sarbojanin Durgotsav in Bengal as well as in India in the compound of Simla Byayam Samity. The word 'Sarbojanin' is specially significant because prior to this no puja had the title of the word 'Sarbojanin'. The word 'Sarbojanin' means, anything which the public has a right to and which is for the general wellbeing. Prior to this Durga Puja in Bengal was conducted in some Zamindar houses and in the houses of some rich people. This was a source of enjoyment and entertainment to the Zamindars and rich people. In these Pujas, people, without distinction of caste and creed from all levels of the society did not have the right to attend. In these Durga Pujas, only a few rich people belonging to high society had the right to attend as invitees.
Revolutionary Atindra Nath Bosu, who established Simla Byayam Samity thought that if "Maa Durga" belonged to everybody and if organizing Durga Puja was for the well being of the society, then, people from all caste, creed and religion should have the right to attend the Puja. As a result of this thought, Late Atindra Nath Bosu in the year 1926, in the administration of Simla Byayam Samity, in the compound of Simla Byayam Samity introduced Bengal's foremost 'Sarbojanin Durgotsav'.On 20th April 1929, in the Calcutta Municipal Gazette it was published about that time's Simla Byayam Samity ---- "We would like to take the opportunity of offering our sincerest congratulation to the authorities of the Simla Byayam Samity on the splendid work they are doing for the improvement of the physique of the boys and young men of North Calcutta .... Calcutta must be covered by gymnasium like the Simla Byayam Samity before we can hope to see our young men stand with their heads erect and walk with their chest forward".Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was the president of the puja in 1939.