Staff Reporter: Famous dancer of Bulbul Lalitkala Academy and teacher of Harvard School of Dance, Boston expatriate Dulal Talukder has passed away. He died of cardiac arrest at his home in Medford, near Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday (May 11). He was 74 years old at the time of his death. He was suffering from various diseases for a long time. He is survived by his wife Sabiha Talukder and 2 daughters. Boston expatriate Awami League leader Tipu Chowdhury and his brother veteran freedom fighter Mostak Talukder confirmed the death.
Dancer Dulal Talukder is a teacher at the Harvard School of Dance. He is a first batch student of Bulbul Lalitkala Academy. As a Bengali artist, he has a unique role in highlighting the culture of Bangladesh at the international level. He is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and musician all in one.
Dulal Talukdar was born in 1946 in Calcutta. After the partition of the country in 1947, they moved to Dhaka. Since then they live in Thakurpara of Kamalapur. In his childhood, he was inclined to learn music and dance. Dulal Taludkdar was the second among 6 brothers and 4 sisters. Elder brother Mahbub Taludda is former Election Commissioner. The fourth brother, the brave freedom fighter Mosaddeq Talukder, died in the liberation war in 1971. The third brother, veteran freedom fighter and vocalist Mostak Talukder, is currently living in New Hampshire, USA. The other brothers are Moshiur Rahman and Tamal Talukdar. Their four sisters are Mahmuda Talukder, Maksuda Alamgir, Mahfuza Talukder and Marufa Talukder. Their country house is Hapaniya village of Purbadhala Upazila of Netrakona district.
Dulal Talukder’s creative dance compositions bring out various aspects and styles with deep care, devotion, artistic sense. His biography titled ‘Ami Dulal Talukdar’ has been published from Dhaka. The book provides a thorough account of how she broke through the fabric of a conservative family and society to become a dancer and establish herself nationally and internationally.
His elder brother storyteller and former election commissioner Mahbub Talukdar encouraged him to enroll in the newly established Bulbul Lalitkala Academy (BAFA). After that, admission to BAFA and learning dance started. Mandira Nandy, Dulal Talukder and Raheja Khanam Jhunu were among the first students in the Buffer dance classes that started in July 1955. Their dance teacher Ajit Sanyal was one of the members of choreographer Bulbul Chowdhury’s team. After passing matriculation from Nawabpur School in 1963, he was admitted to Dhaka College.
Then he focused on dance studies and intensive practice at home and abroad. In the sixties of the last century, as a member of the cultural group, he participated in dance performances in about 20 countries of the world.
Dulal Talukder danced in the ceremony organized in honor of the President and Prime Minister of different countries including Queen Elizabeth II of England, King Reza Shah Pahlavi of Iran, Prime Minister of China Chou En Lai. He got close to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, world famous Ustad Bismillah Khan, ghazal emperor Mehdi Hasan, dancer Sitara Devi, Uday Shankar, Pandit Ravi Shankar and many other geniuses.
In March 1974, Dulal Talukder immigrated to the United States permanently. There, he worked as a dance teacher and trainer in various institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston University, the world famous folk dance troupe ‘Mandala’. He was associated with Harvard University’s School of Dance for a long time.
BP/SM
