National Rabindra Sangeet Festival '08 begins
The 19th National Rabindra Sangeet Festival '08 began at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium of Central Public Library on March 5. Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha (BRSSS) organised the four-day long programme, where more than 200 artistes from all over the country will perform.
Veteran Rabindra Sangeet singer, exponent and President of BRSSS, Kalim Sharafi inaugurated the festival. A brief discussion was held prior to the cultural programme. General Secretary of BRSSS, Tapan Mahmud gave the welcome speech.
Tapan Mahmud read out an eight-point proposal, urging to the authorities to project and promote Rabindra Sangeet in a befitting manner.
The points are -- to declare Tagore and Nazrul anniversaries as national holidays; to include Tagore, Nazrul, Lalon and Hason Raja's biographies in the primary and secondary level curriculum; to name three major streets in Dhaka city after Tagore, Lalon and Hason Raja; to establish a Rabindra Academy and more.
Tagore researcher, Professor A.B.M. Nurul Anwar was the chief guest at the programme. In his speech, Nurul Anwar emphasised on the need to study Rabindra Sangeet more extensively. He said, “Rabindranath's songs inspired us during the Liberation War. Now is the time to evaluate Rabindranath's works in the contemporary context.”
A one-minute silence was observed to pay tribute to the recently deceased cultural personalities.
The programme on the first day of the festival was dedicated to the late Tagore singer Jahanara Nishi. Programmes on following days will be dedicated to dotara maestro late Abinash Chandra Sheel; theatre icon late Selim Al Deen; Language Movement veteran and poet, late Mahbub-Ul-Alam Chowdhury.
On the first day of the cultural programme, hundreds of Tagore artistes performed. The programme started with a group rendition of the patriotic song O amar desher mati. Two more chorus songs performed were Aji Bangladesher hridoy hotey and Shob dibi ki.
The solo performances included Laboney purna pran, Ami je aar shoitey parini, Bashontey aaj dhorar and Esho esho amar ghorey rendered by Oli Bhaumik, Baitunnahar Poppy, Rita Majumdar and Sahadev Acharya respectively.
Jayanta Roy recited the poem Duhshomoy at the programme.
Noted Tagore singer Iffat Ara Dewan rendered Kon alotey praner pradip. Ashok Shaha from Kushtia and Sadia Monwara Usha from Jessore rendered Rodon bhora e bashonto and Kanna hanshir dol respectively.
Apart from rendition of songs, the festival will also feature recitation of Tagore's poems and open discussions. Noted cultural personality and organiser Nikhil Sen of Barisal will be awarded by BRSSS this year.
Gemcon Group Limited is the sponsor of the festival.
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