Countdown to Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary

(Clockwise: from top left) Mohon Singh, Sadi Mohammad, Papiya Sarwar, Shimul Mustafa, Lopa Mudra Mitra and Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna perform at the programme. Photo: Mumit M.

Marking Tagore's 150th birth anniversary on May 8, cultural organisations Shurolok (Bangladesh) and Nabopratisruti (Kolkata, India), along with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) arranged a day-long cultural programme, titled 'Bishwe Bangali,' at the National Theatre Hall of BSA on June 11.
Renowned singers, reciters and dancers from both the countries performed at the event.
National Professor Kabir Chowdhury formally inaugurated the programme in the morning, while director general of BSA Kamal Lohani presided over the session. Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mijarul Quayes and Secretary to the Cultural Ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamun were present as special guests.
The cultural programme was segmented into the morning and evening sessions.
The morning session featured artistes Mita Haq, Roquaiya Hasina Neely, Himadri Shekhar, Mujibul Quayum, Dahlia Ahmed and Sharmila Bandopadhyay and her dance troupe Nrityanandan from Bangladesh and Mohon Singh, Tithi Dev Barman and Supratik Das from Kolkata.
Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna, Sadi Mohammad, Lily Islam, Iffat Ara Dewan, Papiya Sarwar, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury,Tapan Mahmud, Sajed Akbar, Chanchal Khan, Laisa Ahmed Lisa from Bangladesh and Lopa Mudra Mitra, Subrata Mukhopadhyay, Partha Mukhopadhyay, Somnath Mukherjee and Gora Chand Ram from India rendered Tagore numbers in the second session.
Asaduzzaman Noor (MP), Progna Laboni and Shimul Mustafa from Bangladesh and Sutapa Bandyopadhyay and Probal Mallick from India gave recitations in the second session.
In her lively performance, Sutapa Bandyopadhyay recited “Ontor Momo” followed by “Ami,” “Naboborsha” “Hridoy Amar” (that was later converted into song), “Jibon Debota,” (Ohey ontortamo) and excerpts from “Rachonar Rabindranath” written by essayist-journalist Shunetra Ghatak.
The highlight of the day was a spirited performance by Lopa Mudra Mitra, who bowed her head to Tagore enthusiasts in a gesture of humility.
She started her performance with “Akash bhora shurja tara” followed by “Bodhu michhey raag,” “Mon mor megher o shongi,” “Amar o poran o jaha chaye,” “Jadi tor daak shuney” and “Aguner poroshmoni chho(n) yao praney.”
Later, along with other artistes, she rendered the national anthem of Bangladesh “Amar Sonar Bangla” followed by the national anthem of India “Jana gana mana adhinayaka jaya he” , both written by Rabindranath Tagore.
“This is an endeavour by Bangladeshi and Bengali people living all across the world to stand upright in the cultural milieu,” Lily Islam said.
A similar event will be held in Kolkata later this year, leading towards the grand celebration in May 2011.