Outburst of joy against violence

A young woman wearing a broad smile with her hair interlaced with flowers during a programme marking Pahela Falgun yesterday at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. People of all ages stepped out on the city streets in vibrant colours to celebrate the arrival of spring, defying fears stemming from blockade violence. PHOTO: Anisur Rahman

In the midst of death and despair brought on by political instability, spring has finally arrived in Dhaka, bringing with it new leaves, vibrant blossoms and the hope of a better tomorrow. At a time when darkness reigns over our land, the exquisiteness of the sun-kissed krishnochura, singing cuckoo and soothing spring breeze reminded us, once again, of the beauty of life and the indomitable spirit of our people.  

Unwilling to remain confined in their homes any longer, people of all ages stepped out on the city streets to celebrate the rejuvenating energy of this season yesterday.

Adorned in flowers and the vivid colours of spring, men and women, children and the elderly, thronged the cultural centres of the capital with renewed optimism. The vitality of spring, like the laughter of a little girl dressed in a bashanti sari, was indeed infectious.

“A poet once said, 'You can cut off all the flowers but you cannot stop spring from coming,' and our celebration of Falgun proves just that,” said Nirmala Sen, a student at Dhaka University, as she wore a garland of marigold around her braid.  “You can threaten us, maim us, kill our loved ones, but you cannot destroy our zest for life.”

Mamun, the flower vendor who sold her the garland, grinned from ear to ear, ecstatic that after more than a month of poor business due to the ongoing blockade and hartals, his small shop would finally make a profit. 

“I want to give two bouquets of my best flowers to our two leaders and ask them to stop destroying our lives,” he said.

Others, too, yearned to leave behind the desolation of recent times.

“Maybe the spring blossoms can rekindle some sympathy in our politicians. But how do you make them see the beauty of flowers when they only see power?” asked Jishan Hawladar, an IT specialist.   

Cultural activist Ferdous Rahman argued that there is something about spring that reinvigorates Bangalees to rebel against injustices. “We rose in the spring of 1952, in 1971 and then again in 2013. Who knows, perhaps we will rise up again this spring, and say enough is enough?”

The songs of Rabindranath and Nazrul, Lalon and Hason filled the crisp spring air and soothed our melody-laden souls in concerts throughout the city. The Ekushey Book Fair, which over the last two weeks saw a relatively thin crowd as a result of the continuous blockade and violence, yesterday teemed with visitors.