Shamageet: A magazine on people's song

Shamageet Shangskriti Prangon, a Narayanganj-based cultural group, organised the publication ceremony of its little magazine on musicShamageet,at the Nat Mandal auditorium of Dhaka University Thursday last.

The maiden issue of the magazine has Gono Sangeet (people's song) as its theme. The magazine contains write-ups by gono sangeet personalities Kafil Ahmed, Faruq Wasef, Abul Hassan Rubel, Nituparna, Kriti Konika, Dina Tanzeen and others. The topics include the history of Gono Sangeet as a musical genre and its recent trends, profiles of the pioneers of this genre, interviews of eminent gono sangeet singers, lyrics of Kafil Ahmed's songs and analytic essays on this inspirational genre of music.

The programme was attended by theatre activist Mamunur Rashid, poet Muhammad Rafique, educationist Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury, writer Firoz Ahmed, and Rafiur Bappi and Amal Akash of Shamageet.

Mamunur Rashid said, "We get to know the pioneers of Gono Sangeet like Hemanga Biswas and Paul Robson anew through this periodical. The group's effort of digging into the deep-rooted history and various topics related to Gono Sangeet is praiseworthy. It is quite surprising and inspiring that in such a materialistic world there are people like the members of Shamageet who still show enthusiasm in upholding the spirit of the timeless Gono Sangeet of this land."

Muhammad Rafique said, "At present time, the existence of distressed people is often intentionally avoided. In such a condition the true spirit of the Gono Sangeet is badly needed."

The discussion session was followed by a singing recital by Gono Sangeet singer Kafil Ahmed and the members of Shamageet. The soulful singing of the artistes and the inspiring songs enthralled the audience.