Swanon celebrates 32nd anniversary

In the cultural sphere, poetry recitation is revered, and yet not widely practiced. For 32 years, poetry elocution group Swanon has taken up the cause of giving the art a proper platform, and their perseverance has come a long way. To celebrate their 32nd founding anniversary, a programme titled “Amra to Utshobey Metechi” was held yesterday at Bangladesh National Museum's Sufia Kamal Auditorium in the evening.

Among renowned attendees was distinguished cultural personality Syed Hasan Imam as chief guest. Noted writer Selina Hossain and President of Centre for NRB Foundation MA Chowdhury Shamim were present as special guests. Along with the chief guest, elocutionists Jayanta Chattopadhyay, Ashraful Alam and Bhaskar Bandyapadhyay performed at the event. A Gaudiya dance performance was also presented by Professor Mahua Mukherjee, a Tagore chair at the Department of Dance, University of Dhaka.

Swanon's founder and convener Rupa Chakrabarty said, “Swanon began with seven young friends with a love for poetry. Back then, poetry recitation wasn't an activity that held as much appeal as singing and dancing, and being an elocutionist was never a specialised field. After much rallying, we have finally gained the support of the government, and poetry recitation finally has a platform on radio and television. Although there is still a long way to go, I am very happy with what we have achieved.”