The little things that matter

On making my way towards Elephant Road one fine holiday, I thought of browsing through the area's many music stores. Preparations for the Independence Day were in progress, while posters and fliers carrying patriotic messages were visible on the city streets. Several youngsters were dressed in the colours of nature, strolling by music stores playing popular patriotic numbers likePurbo Digontey, Joy Bangla Banglar joy, O amar desher matiand a few others, heard just once or twice a year.

Surprisingly enough, many of the stores didn't seem to have the songs I had listed in my mind. For instance, the song Shikal porar chol, which I, along with many other Bangali people of my generation had grown up with, was completely unavailable. I was even more shocked when the sales people simply gaped at me, obviously never having heard of the song ever before.

Next stop, Eastern Plaza, where I knew I would not be turned away with an empty soul and mind. This time however, I took a hold of my swaying emotions and got a grip of my patience, when the music stores declared that they had not even heard of the song.

Some of the music stores didn't even have patriotic numbers to offer, other than of course the usual English/Hindi hip-hop and It's the time to disco, not to forget a lot of Bangla hogwash screaming about one's heart bursting out in petty love. I simply turned and walked away when one sales person asked, Appa, gaanta kon bander? (Which band does the song belong to?)

As the new age takes over and generations roll on forward, at this rate, there will be a time when all of us will listen to the techno versions of the age-old patriotic numbers like Mora ekti phul ke baachabo bole juddho kori, Jagao pothike and O amaar aat koti phul. The fact that the youth has introduced a new dimension in music, particularly band music, in the country is a welcome development. Fortunately, we have shown and proved the capability of learning and enjoying western forms of music, like jazz, soft rock, reggae and not to mention heavy metal. It's a wonder to see how well today's generation actually mix the Bangla spirit into these foreign forms of music and create a terrific blend.

But does that mean that we forget the compositions and songs made out of sheer desperation, frustration, sorrow, agony and also happiness by finally gaining victory? Do we ignore the fact that millions of souls are still lingering above us, trying to figure out if we are really enjoying this freedom and of course, putting it to the right use?

Let us, the youth, voice out our inner core, scream out the pride we feel in being ourselves and never be ashamed to stand up, hand in hand, remembering the past to build a real future: Emon deshti kothao khuje pabe nako tumi...shokol desher rani sheje amaar jonmo bhumi.. sheje amaar jonmo bhumi.