Samageet celebrates the birth centenary of Manik Bandyopadhyay

Artistes of Samageet during a performance at the event.

May 19, 2008 marked the birth centenary of Manik Bandyopadhyay (1908- 1956), one of the most influential novelists in Bengali Literature. Samageet, a Narayanganj-based progressive cultural organisation, celebrated the occasion on August 30 with a discussion and a cultural programme at the Ali Ahmed Municipal Library auditorium, Narayanganj.
Hasan Zafrul Bipul, a little magazine activist and member of Samageet, presented the main essay at the discussion. Litterateur Mamun Hossain from Rajshahi, poet-writer Kajal Shahnewaz and columnist Faruk Wasif were the discussants at the event presided over by the convenor of Samageet, Amol Akash. In his well-written paper, Bipul touched on different aspects of Manik's bohemian and dynamic life and writings -- including a brief discussion on his three major works, Putul Nacher Itikatha, Padma Nadir Majhi and Diba Ratrir Kabyo.
“Daring and disturbing, Manik's writing is a form of expression of the person who was driven by the passion to discover the reasons behind every 'why' of human life,” he said.
Faruk Wasif noted, “When we try to tear apart a piece of cloth, a particular part of the cloth starts to give in first. Just like that the proletariats takes all the stress of a society. Manik Bandyopadhyay's writings take into concern the plight of the proletariats in the contemporary society, breaking the verge of realism into a surrealistic world of optimism.”
In his speech, Amol Akash said, “Even the most insignificant entity may nurture the greatest love and passion. Our endeavour to celebrate Manik Bandyopadhyay's 100th birth anniversary is an expression of our affinity for the litterateur and his works.”
The second half of the event started with a group recital titled Oi jaye, ouponnashik jaye. A Samageet presentation, it was a vibrant compilation of the diaries and letters of Manik Bandyopadhyay and his contemporaries -- focusing on his poverty-stricken personal life with a connection between Manik as a creative writer and a common man with all the prejudices.
The young artistes of Samageet also rendered songs Manik Bandopadhya (a musical version of Bishnu Dey's poem with the same title) and Manik Bandyopadhyay-er Chhobi (poem by Manindra Roy). The songs have been composed by Amol Akash and Bishwajit Das respectively. Padma Nadir Majhi, a song based on the novel and composed by Amol Akash, was also rendered by the artistes of Samageet. The freshness and originality of the theme and music of the song was highly appreciated by the audience.