Two-day musical programme by Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha
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| Artistes perform at the programme organised by BRSSS on May 7. Photo: Mumit M. |
Artistes of the organisation celebrated Kobiguru's birth anniversary with renditions of his songs and recitations of his writings.
A brief inauguration programme was held prior to the main programme on May 7th. Noted educationist Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed was the chief guest. In his speech, Professor Sayeed highlighted Tagore's life as a symbol of optimism. He said, "Rabindranath Tagore never believed in negativity and pessimism."
Tagore exponent and President of BRSSS, Kalim Sharafi presided over the inaugural programme. In his speech Kalim Sharafi said, "Rabindranath will always remain in our mind."
General Secretary of BRSSS, Tapan Mahmud gave the welcome speech.
The programmes -- on both days -- were divided in two parts. The first part titled Kobi Bandana highlighted group performances as a tribute to Kobiguru. The songs performed at the inaugural programme included Oi mahamanob ashey and Tumi jey shurer agun lagiye diley. "These songs are related to Kobiguru's life and philosophy," said Tapan Mahmud on the reason behind the song selections.
The second part highlighted solo performances. Nusrat Jahan Runa performed Protidin ami hey. Tagore composed this song at the age of 39.
Nandita Yasmin, Tipu Chowdhury, Sandhya Bhattacharya and S.M. Khaled rendered Apnorey diye, Sranto keno hey pantho, Joraye achhey badha and Ogo shokol sharothini respectively.
Tapan Kumar Sarkar sang Pagla hawar badal diney, a song, which Rabindranath composed at the age of 78. Ema Hasan rendered Tomar khola Hawaye, while Jayanta Roy recited Krishnakoli.
Yesterday the programme started in the morning. Artistes rendered a number of songs and recited poems and excerpts from Tagore's writings.
The second day's programme also celebrated the birthday of Kalim Sharafi (born on May 8, 1924). In this regard, BRSSS arranged a brief programme at the venue.
Apart from Dhaka city, nine wings of BRSSS in other major cities of the country simultaneously celebrated the Tagore birth anniversary. Tapan Mahmud informed that the BRSSS branches in Chittagong, Sylhet, Barisal, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kushtia, Sherpur and Manikganj arranged daylong programmes, while in Khulna a five-day programme is being held.
Rabindra Sangeet in the port city
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| Shila Momen (L) taking a music class Photo: STAR |
But both expressed their disappointment over the lack of practice of Rabindra Sangeet in the proper way.
Shila Momen, who has been working as a cultural activist in the port city since the Pakistan era, founded 'Raktakarabi' -- a training institute -- in 1999 with a view to ensure the proper practice of Rabindra Sangeet and other genres of Bengali music including their theoretical aspects.
"During the Pakistan era, the practice of Rabindra Sangeet to us was a fight against the hostile attitude of the then Pakistani government towards everything Bengali," Shila said.
"We observed Rabindra Jayanti (Tagore birth anniversary) with much enthusiasm, commitment and passion at that time though the programmes lacked the grandeur that is prevalent now," she went on.
After the Liberation War the foremost task of the Tagore enthusiasts was to maintain the proper practice of Rabindra Sangeet in the country while several progressive cultural personalities like Wahidul Haque, Sanjida Khatun and others from Dhaka visited Chittagong in this regard.
Activists like Mihir Nandi, Nirmal Mitra, Shila Momen and many others worked tirelessly in teaching music and organising the cultural programmes while different institutions including Sangeet Parishad, Agrani Sangha and Alauddin Lalitkala Academy played a significant role.
Now with the passage of time Rabindra Sangeet is also affected by the ongoing trend of commercialisation, Shila observed.
She believes that Tagore songs are now attracting a large number of people and practice is on the upswing with increasing number of training schools.
But the problem is that very few care for the authenticity and strict maintenance of the original notations.
Referring to the changing mode of social environment, Shila said young singers are often after fast fame.
Shila, a member of the Muhtijuddho Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha during the Liberation War, also said that certain prominent singers of the country have become more commercial.
She said it is the duty of the senior artistes and teachers to practice what they preach and only then they can help the students to understand the depth of Tagore's philosophy.
Promising local artiste Sreyoshi Roy, who is the joint secretary of Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha Chittagong, maintains the same view.
Sreyoshi who completed her honours from Rabindra Bharati University, said, "Lots of training institutions are operating but there is a lack of quality teachers. She also said young singers are not interested enough in extensive training and preparation."
The Tagore enthusiast expressed her frustration over poorly planned programmes on Rabindra Sangeet and substandard production of Tagore plays in Chittagong.
"The organisations remain confined in just observing birth and death anniversaries of Tagore and stay inactive for the most part all year round," she said.
Both artistes however have not lost their hopes and are determined to work towards ensuring proper practice of Rabindra Sangeet in Chittagong.
| Tagore birth anniversary celebration in Dhaka Rabindra Mela at Channel-i's Tajgaon office
May 8 marked the 147th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. To celebrate the occasion channel-i arranged a Rabindra Mela at its Tejgaon office yesterday. The event was inaugurated at 11:00 am. Renowned artist Hashem Khan, Managing Director of Impress Telefilm Ltd, Faridur Reza Sagor, poet Asad Chowdhury and others attended the inauguration. A performance by the artistes of Chhayanat followed. Musical performances were held at two separate stages -- an open stage at the office premises and another stage inside the studio. Solo performances were held on the indoor stage while the group performances by artistes of Chhayanat, Surer Dhara, Bishwa Bina, Dhrubotan and others were held on the open stage. Sajed Akbar, Bhashwar Bandyopadhyay, Laila Afroz, Tapon Mahmud, Hassan Arif, Rabi Shankar Moitri, Nargis Sultana, Shanta Marium, Bulbul Islam and others sang and recited poems at the mela. The programme was well attended by leading writers, Tagore exponents, poets, artists and more. Artists -- Rafiqun Nabi, Hashem Khan, Shahid Kabir, Biren Shom, Alokesh Ghosh, Farida Zaman, Kanak Chanpa Chakma and others attended the programme and drew paintings on the theme, "Tagore". A total of 25 decorated stalls were set up at the venue. Books containing literary works of Tagore were on display. One stall featured reproductions of Tagore's artworks. There was also a stall that provided information on Rabindranath's contribution to agriculture. "There are mainly three reasons behind organising this event -- to bring to light all aspects of Rabindranath. Most may know Tagore as only a writer but he was also an artist who had made significant contribution to our agriculture. As channel-i is now transmitted in six continents, hopefully this initiative will get a wider audience. We also wanted to popularise everything Tagore among the young generations," said agricultural activist and media personality Shykh Seraj. At the mela children took part in painting as well. Poet Asad Chowdhury said, "To arrange such an event to celebrate Tagore's birth anniversary is a positive endeavour by channel-i. Such initiatives are helpful in generating interest in Tagore among the youngsters." This year Channel-i presented the "Rabindra Mela Aajibon Shommanona" to Tagore artiste and exponent Ajit Roy. Roy received a crest, an uttorio and a cash prize of Tk 10,000. As part of the award, the artiste will receive Tk 10,000 from channel-i every month from now on. However, several stalls at the Rabindra Mela had nothing to do with Tagore. For instance, it makes one wonder what connection does a beauty salon, an entertainment magazine, a fashion house or a hospital has with Tagore's philosophy, life or works. Rabindra Mela was aired live on Channel-i yesterday.  |
On 5/8/08, Salahuddin Ayubi <s_ayubi786@yahoo.com> wrote
| Is there any reason for us to celebrate his birthday? Ayubi --- On Thu, 5/8/08, AbdurRahim Azad <Arahim.azad@...> wrote: |
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