Return to Eden

Winter festivals always seem to evoke our childhood memories. Pitha over the fire, heavy mist lifting off the tree tops, the list of mental images are endless. So when we were invited to the commemoration of RKB Mallick School at our ancestral home, we started packing almost immediately. It was an opportunity to pay homage to the school that had transformed the village from a farmland to a modern hub. Taking part in the age-old festivities rural Bangladesh is famous for was a cherry on top.
A few kilometres past the National Martyrs' Monument in Savar, we made a right turn at a gas station shortly afterwards, and were soon in the hub that is Dhamrai Bazar, adjacent to our village in Rajapur.
Modernisation had certainly left its fingerprints on this village, concrete houses replacing the thatched huts and large electrical poles standing silently next to the banana groves. But what caught our eye were the farmlands that had been left largely untouched. In the early morning glow, dew glistened on the grass and foliage like tiny diamonds, the branches swaying to the silent beat of the winter winds.
The street teemed with fruit and vegetable vendors as we inched our way through the melee towards our destination. Throughout the day there was a flurry of activity with large tents being pitched, workmen setting up the stage and an army of people bent over the steaming cauldrons to cook for the mass of organisers preparing for next day's events.
As dusk fell, an announcer went around the village with a loudspeaker on a rickshaw -- there was to be an open air jatra organised by the local Adarsha Samity. Braving the chills, villagers huddled in hundreds at the arena. Though large parts of the village had no electricity, the eager audience made its way under the glow of the moon, hurricanes and torches. The whole locality was united in its celebrations, it seemed. No “rival” stages set up by competing groups, no heavily guarded entrance -- so different from scenes city dwellers have become accustomed to. To the large group of people who had travelled from the cities, it felt as if much of the “ills” of modern society had failed to leave a dent on the mass psyche, festival was still a festival, a pure celebration of a common heritage.
As we approached the venue we saw bright lights hung in every corner. Actors dressed in flashy velvet jackets and shiny armours, and women attired as queens and princesses soon transported the audience to a world of fantasy with their nightlong performances. Streams of people arrived at the spot to watch the jatra and cheered the amateur actors, most of whom were from the working class. They performed with passion as veteran director Jalil prompted out loud. With the beginning of the orchestra and cymbals the act began to roll one by one. It was past midnight when people finally left for home.
The following day the grand celebration of the RKB Mallick High School Old Boys' Association (batches 1986-1990) began with a rally. The school was set up by educationist Dr. A.R Mallick in 1983, and in over 28 years had produced scores of professionals, teachers and entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Students gathered at the school premises and enjoyed the entire day mingling with old friends. All this celebration made sense, since the light of education had formed an integral part of life in the village over the preceding one hundred years. RKB was only adding to the pride of the village, where the number of those educated happens to be higher than at some other spots across the country.
After the discussion session with MP Benazir Ahmed as special guest led by Dr. Md Zafar Iqbal Khan of BUET, convenor, and Md Abdur Razzak Khan (member secretary), the cultural programme began in the evening. Under a massive canopy an eager crowd began to gather to listen to the noted artistes such as Bari Siddiqui, Nokul Chandra Biswas, Ankhi Alamgir, Pothik Nabi and more. The crowd cheered every song and encored for more. A.B Siddique Khan sponsored the event.
Once we concluded the school programme, lawmaker Benazir Ahmed, led us to the adjoining venue where a three-day programme was just getting underway. We were taken aback by the sheer size of the amassed audience. After a formal launch the programme began with Shahnaz Beli rendering soulful songs of Shah Abdul Karim and Lalon, much to the jubilation of the crowd. “Khude Gaanraj” star Imran performed next.
It was getting late and it was time to return. There was an equally massive crowd participation the following day as noted folk singer Momtaz performed at the same venue.
It was with a heavy heart that we started our journey back to the city the following day. The experience of the previous few days had only reinforced our belief in traditions and the power they yield in bonding the localities together. On the one hand was the school re-union: a simple, yet elaborate programme to pay homage to one of the foundation pillars of our society -- education. On the other was the festival, an unrestrained medley of music and drama, bonding people across miles.
The tremendous might of education and heritage to transform and nourish the population was clear to everyone. As the village skyline melted from our sights we implicitly knew the pulsating energy that it radiated would only grow stronger.