Bhawaiya song, play on!
Some say the buffalo ploughmen sang Bhawaiya songs as they tilled the “bhawa” lowlands. Others believe the word “Bhawaiya” has roots in “bao” meaning “breeze”, fit for songs that flow strong with high emotion. What cannot be denied is this: a form of song especially favoured by the Rajbongshi and sung in local Rangpuri language the Bhawaiya tradition is iconic to North Bengal.
Now, thanks in large part to Bhupati Bhusan Barma, 58, who has worked tirelessly over the years to firmly position Kurigram's Ulipur upazila at the heart of Bhawaiya's map, there are plans afoot to honour and preserve the memorabilia relating to this rich musical heritage.
A senior teacher of Durgapur High School in Ulipur upazila by day, Bhupati is an eminent singer and Bhawaiya enthusiast. He has performed in concerts as far afield as West Bengal. “Bhawaiya songs have long been popular here,” he says. “Lyrics often recall the rural life details, using linguistic terms unique to the region.”
“But the younger generation,” Bhupati laments, “are less familiar with Bhawaiya. They don't understand all the references in the songs. As a result their interest is less.”
It's not only local terms that have fallen into disuse. Much of the paraphernalia once common to agricultural life and referred to in the songs has itself gone the way of history.
Bhupati believes displaying these implements, which were once integral to daily life, can reconnect modern North Bengalis through Bhawaiya songs with their ancestral roots. As such, Bhupati started collecting visual items relevant to the Bhawaiya tradition in May this year, with thoughts of a museum. In Ulipur, it's a popular idea.
So far Bhupati has located more than one hundred potential exhibits including agricultural items such as wooden yokes; ploughs; harrow-like kursi; penti sticks for driving oxen; karail axes; bakua shoulder-carrying-poles; topa wicker farmer's hats; winnowing trays and baskets; pesta stabilisers positioned between a person's head and the basket or pot being carried on top; and paddy processing implements called urun-gyen and paat.
His collection includes fishing implements such as barshi fish hooks; various types of fish traps like darki, deru, palo and chaak; and khalay and zina used to keep the fish once caught. As well there are various musical instruments. All such items are referred to in Bhawaiya songs, of course by their commonly-used North Bengali names. Books on Bhawaiya and CD song compilations will also form part of the museum's collection.
On October 7, Ulipur's Upazila Nirbahi Officer Muhammad Shafiqul Islam laid the foundation stone for the museum within the grounds of Bangladesh Bhawaiya Academy, the local institution of which Bhupati is the founding director and head teacher.
“It will be named Kasim Uddin Folk Museum,” says Bhupati, “in memory of Kurigram town's eminent Bhawaiya singer who found success in bringing new popularity to our songs, at home and abroad. We could do little to help Kasim Uddin during his lifetime; it's befitting the museum bears his name.”
Indeed the choice of site within the academy's grounds is also significant. Ulipur's academy is the sole surviving Bhawaiya teaching institution of the eight similar associations established across Rangpur region in the early 1990s. Within a few years all other branches had closed, most commonly due to poor organisation. By contrast, in 1994 Durgapur's the then-chairman Al-Hap Golap Uddin Sarkar donated five decimals of land for the academy.
Since then, in a long tin-shed building constructed with locally-sourced and some government funds, the academy has run three-year courses in the Bhawaiya tradition. Students study five subjects which include lessons on playing dotara, sharinda, drum and flute, free of cost. The teachers, nowadays eight, work as volunteers. Currently 70 students attend the classes held on every Thursday and Friday afternoon, keeping the tradition alive.
Over the years more than 2,000 students have benefited from the academy's instruction, with renowned artistes like Jiban Chandra Pal, Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Parul Roy, Dulal Chandra Barman, Sujita Roy and Shaju Ahmed among the alumni. Around 42 former students have pursued opportunities in radio and television.
“I will start the work of the museum,” says Bhupati, “and complete it as best I can. But I would ask any kind-hearted citizen who is able, to help us in constructing the building; the museum authority will forever remember any contributor with a thankful heart.”
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