Bringing Tagore to the grassroots

Tagore’s emotions in different circumstances were narrated in the programme. Photo: Mumit M.

The inauguration of cultural organisation Uttorayon was held on July 30. The event coincided with the upcoming celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore and the 100th year of his timeless work “Geetanjali”.
The evening at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum began with a Geeti Alekhya entitled “Chirokal-er Rabindranath”, which comprised of Tagore's songs and recitations of his poems.
Renowned Tagore singers of Bangladesh, Sadi Muhammad and Papya Sarwar along with popular violin player and music director Durbadol Chattapadhaya announced the auspicious inauguration of Uttorayon by lighting mongolprodip. The programme musically described Tagore's notable experiences and creations throughout his lifetime. The members of Uttorayon with Lily Islam, the director of the organisation, general secretary Himadri Shekhar and organising secretary Ani Riaz performed the songs in the Geeti Alekhya while Bhaskar Bandapadhaya and Dalia Ahmed recited Tagore's poems.
Tagore's emotions in different circumstances were narrated in the Geeti Alekhya. Of these songs, “Doobi Amrito Pathar e,” “Achhe Dukkho - Achhe Mrittu”, “Bipul Taranga re” and “Jibon-Moron er Shimana” written in different times of grief, such as after the sudden death of Kadambari Devi, Rabi's sister-in-law, who showered deep affection on the young Rabi; Mrinalini Devi, his wife, his son Shomindranath and younger daughter Madhurilata. Besides, several other songs and poems which captured the poet's spiritual bent of mind were also performed.
Lily Islam, the noted Tagore singer and director of Uttorayon, said the institute sought to bring Tagore's lyrics and tunes to the people and encourage the practice of pure Bengali music in the country. Also on the anvil, she said was a music academy.
About the inauguration of Uttorayon, she said, “Rabindranath Tagore traversed through various creative mediums and achieved great success. So, our institute has emerged with the positive intention of working on his songs.
Another momentous feature of the programme was a musical performance by instrumentalists like Durbadol Chattapadhaya (violin), Rahul Chattapadhaya (sitar), Shbhayu Sen Majumdar (esraj), Goutam Ghosh (keyboard) and Joydev Nandy (tabla).