In the root of Ramana's song-poetry, Chhaynat's yearning, hope for a life free from fear
The first morning of Bengali New Year. It was 6:15 am on the clock. The night sky has turned crimson. The light is calm, dim because of the clouds in the sky. In such an environment, hundreds of artists sat at the bottom of Ramna in the capital and sang 'Jago Alok-Logne' in unison. And this is how Bengali New Year 1433 was welcomed.
The song is sung by Mirazul Jannat Sonia, Aishwarya Samaddar, Priyant Dev and Samudra Shubham. Lyrics by Ajay Bhattacharya. Composed by Bhishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Like other years, this year too, the traditional cultural institution of the country, Chhaynat, organized this New Year's eve at Ramna Botamule.
The program of Chaynat ended at 8:25 am with the performance of the national anthem by a collective voice. The main idea of this event was 'Where the heart is fearless, high where the head is'.
Visitors started coming from early morning to see this New Year event. As time progressed, the presence of people increased. At one time, the Batmool courtyard was filled to the brim with people. Beyond Batmool, the crowd of people started to increase in other places of Ramana Park. Let everyone continue to enjoy this Bengali New Year celebration like enchanted.
After the ensemble song, Makchura Akhtar Antara performed a solo song 'E Ki Sugangahillol Bahil'. Then Azizur Rahman sang the song 'Tomar Khe Rakhikhani Bandho'.
Semanti Manjuri sang Rabindranath Tagore's 'Bajao Amare Bajao'. Kazi Nazrul Islam's song 'Arunkanti Ke Go Yogi Bhikhari' was sung by Bittu Kumar Sheel. Dwijendralal Roy's song 'Aji Gao Mahageet' is a solo song by Srabanti Dhar.
Chandana Majumder performed Lalon Sai's song 'Bar Sankatke Padiya Dayal'. 'Eso Mukta Karo' written by Jyotirindra Maitra is sung in ensemble.
The group of children and adults sang together Salil Chowdhury's song 'Sedin ar kata dar'. The children's group sings the song 'Als Hoyona Bhai' written by Matlub Ali.
Not only music, but also poetry. Salil Chowdhury's poem 'Ek Guchch Chabi' was recited by Khairul Alam. Without the national anthem and speeches, the two-hour event passed in an instant with 24 songs and poems.
Most of the visitors who came to Ramana Botmool on the first Baisakh were wearing sarees and Punjabis. Children, teenagers and women wear red and white saris. Boys' Punjabi had a touch of red and white.
Some of the children and teenagers had 'Bangla New Year 1433' written on their cheeks. Foreign guests also enjoyed the event.
Loman Gomez came to this event with his wife and children. Around 7:30 in the morning, he told Prothom Alo that after 13 years, he had come to see the Chayanaut event on Bengali New Year. I have not come for so long due to various reasons. Today's arrangement is good.
9-year-old Benedict L. de Gomez was listening to music while sitting on his mother's lap. "This is the first time," said Benedict, wearing a red and white panjabi. It is very nice to listen to music in such a beautiful environment.
A large presence of law and order forces has been seen in the security of this event in Chaynat. Members of various forces including BGB, Police, SWAT, RAB, APBN, DB performed duties at the venue.
"Let everyone sing without fear, let Bengalis live without fear"
At the very end of the event, Chayanot President Sarwar Ali gave a speech. He commented that the prevailing power is bent on uprooting Bengali music from its rich heritage. He said, he wants to hear the greetings of the society - so that everyone can sing without fear. May all manifestations of culture be uninterrupted. May Bengalis live a fear free life.
Chayanot president said, 'Poyala Boishakh is a special day to unveil Bengali culture and ethnicity. Like the past six decades, on this day, we look back at the past year after erasing all the sadness. Last year too, the New Year celebrations were held in Ramna without a hitch. On December 16, Victory Day was organized on the open stage. Two days after that late at night Chayanaut culture – the broken harmonium-tabla-tanpura in the building and the sad memory of Nalanda's tattered children's book. That night two top newspaper buildings were set on fire. The next day Udichi was affected. The bowlers were defamed a few days before this violent incident. The terrible incident of 2001 was awakened in this root.
Sarwar Ali said that the music of Bengali is the companion of joy-pain-reconciliation-dissension-crisis; resort to acquiring all rights from the liberation war; binds people of all religions and races in a bond of harmony; Some evil force wants to discourage peaceful people from that music by fear. They strive to uproot contemporary Bengali music from its rich heritage. Intolerance has increased in the society. The fear of gang harassment for expressing your opinion has increased.
President Chayanot mentioned that the Persian civilization is also facing a terrible disaster today due to the US-Israeli occupation. He said, "The people of the world are upset and scared today. Everyone wishes for world peace on the first dawn of the new year. I want to hear the message of society - that journalists can express their true opinions without fear; Let everyone sing without fear; May all manifestations of culture be unhindered—Bengali lives without fear.'
Sarwar Ali said, 'I dream of such a motherland: "Where the heart is fearless, the head is high / The knowledge is free, the wall of the house."
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
