Arshi Nagar, a hope for folk artistes
Arshi Nagar Bangladesh, a volunteer organisation located in Lalmonirhat has been providing a platform for folk artistes of two districts--Lalmonirhat and Kurigram--to practice and preserve this age-old art form.
The organisation was founded by Badsha Alam in 2005, with a dream to preserve the folksongs of North Bengal. Along with that, the help of donations from a kind-hearted lady, Wrathe, from Norway in 2006 helped in cementing Arshi Nagar’s position further.
At present, the organisation runs 17 centres for folksong training and four for practicing archaic musical instruments at villages of the two districts.
Wrathe visits Arshi Nagar Bangladesh’s training centres from time to time and is addressed as mother by all the folksong artistes.
About 1,200 students of schools and colleges have been learning folksongs and how to play musical instruments at the centres.
Many of the students have already been listed as folksong activists and play ancient music instruments for radios and televisions. Students of Arshi Nagar have received national awards for their performances.
Some of the students who are from poor families are provided with educational expenditure, heath care and food supplies from Arshi Nagar.
The organisation has already archived about 100 different ancient musical instruments and over 3,000 folksongs.
Comments