Noman Sabit: Two-day long Rabindra Utsav ended in a splendid atmosphere in New York, USA. Local time on Saturday (May 6) at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in New York, the two-day long festival was inaugurated by Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor Swadhinata medalled musician Dr. Rezwana Chowdhury Bonya. The organizers mentioned that West Bengal organization Bangla World Wide has joined as a partner organization.
On Saturday, May 6 at 11 a.m, the first day’s program was inaugurated by the second highest civilian honor of Bangladesh and Ekushe medalled Dr. Jyoti Prakash Dutta. The chief guest was Ekushe medalled Dr.Nurun Nabi. At this time, the American Bangladeshi Artist Forum’s ‘Rabindranath in the Eyes of the Artist’ program was held at the open premises of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. Khurshid Alam Salim inaugurated the event. Simultaneously children’s painting. After that, Rabindranath’s paintings were exhibited at the beginning of the day-long event. Raised by Matlub Ali. Santiniketan in photographs, artist Dr. Obaidullah Mamun. Documentary on Rabindranath’s painting “Past form of rup” is screened at 11:30 am. Directed by Sanat Mahant. At 12:30 pm, the movie “Sherer Kabita” directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay was screened.
At 3 pm Dr.Rezwana Chowdhury inaugurated the flood event. The chief guest was Dr. Gayatri Chakraborty Spivak. Special guest was Dr. Monirul Islam (Consul General of Bangladesh). Randhir Jaisual (Consul General of India), Dr. Holy government. Chandril Bhattacharya, Ahkam Ullah, Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Hasan Ferdous, Randev Sarkar and Rahat Hossain Naju.
Opening music at 3.30 pm. Rabindranath in Shatakantha. Special appearance Rezwana Chowdhury Banya. Directed by Mahitosh Talukder Tapas. In the afternoon, there was also a stage play, medley noise, musical performance, “Rabindranath in foreign practice”. Stage play, Raktkarabi. Country of Dance-Cards (in English). Rabindranath Tagore’s fiction-non-fiction love story, ‘Kar Milan Chao Birohi’. At the end of the many other interesting programs of the first day, at 9 pm, Shreya Guha Thakurta, the popular Indian artist of Rabindra Sangeet, organized a solo Rabindra Sangeet.
Ekushe medalled fiction writers were present in various aspects of the program Joti Prakash Dutta, Ekushe medalled writer and freedom fighter Noorun Nabi, the former vice-chancellor of India’s Rabindra Bharati University, linguist Dr. Pabitra Sarker, Indian author Alolika Mukhopadhyay, India’s national award winning lyricist, essayist and speaker Chandril Bhattacharya, renowned Bangladeshi lawyer Barrister Tanya Ameer. Rabindranath’s descendant, art-historian, renowned gallerist Sundaram Tagore was also present at the festival.
In addition, poets, writers, artists, craftsmen and Rabindra fans from at least 25 states of India, Bangladesh, Britain, Germany, Canada, Mexico and the United States participated. At least 15 organizations of Bangladeshis, Indians participated in the festival. Foreign organizations of different languages also performed in the event.
The organizers said that the main goal is to widely spread the philosophy, thoughts and ideals of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the first Bengali, in the life of immigrants. Rabindra Utsav on the first day had many exceptional arrangements which gave the festival a different dimension.
On the first day of the festival, Bangladeshi American artists presented Rabi Tagore artistically through their art. Rabindranath Tagore’s own paintings were also exhibited on the occasion. A sculpture of Rabi Tagore was installed in the festival premises. Three seminars were held on Rabindranath to the new generation, Rabindranath debate and Rabindranath through the eyes of foreigners.
Suman Mukhopadhyay’s films ‘Shesher Kavita’ and ‘Taser Desh’ and ‘Rakta Karbi’, ‘Bhanu Singh’s Footsteps’ song and dance dramas were performed on the first day of the festival. Two dramas called Stri Patra and Miche Kolahal were staged. Rabindra Sangeet was performed by thirty foreign artistes from Sri Chinmoy Center in New York.
Rabindranath Tagore’s Immortal Creation, Preeti Debate on Best Characters, Role of Women in Rabi Tagore’s Life Two programs ‘Ora Sandhyar Meghmala’ and ‘Kar Milon Chao Birohi’ were performed.
Joti Prakash Dutta inaugurated the Rabindra Sahitya Sammelan in collaboration with Sahitya Academy on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Nurun Nabi was the chief guest. Presented by Mridul Ahmed, Sonia Quader, ABM Saleh Uddin, Polly Shahina, Abu Saeed Ratan, Laila Farzana and Shelly Zaman Khan took part in the program titled Amar Rabindranath. Dr. Ashraf Ahmed discussed the science and thought of Rabindranath. Mahmud Hossain Dulu discusses the influence of Rabindranath’s Baul song on music and lyrics, Saud Chowdhury discusses Gitanjali and Nobel, Abdullah Zahid discusses Rabindranath in America. Manzoor Ahmed discussed Rabindranath’s correspondence in Monija Rahman’s presentation.
Conducted by Manzur Kader, the poetry reading was attended by-Shams Al Momin, Qazi Atiq, Ranu Ferdous, Farhana Ilyas Tuli, Neera Qadri, HB Rita, Roshan Hasan, Khaled Sharfuddin, Shams Chowdhury Russo, Ishtiaq Ahmed Rupu, Nawar Salim, Surit Barua, Benjir Shikdar , Saleheen Saju, Lutfa Haque and Tahmina Khan, Farhana Hossain, Viola Salina, Sohana Nazneen, Sabita Das, Mia Askir, Sultana Firdausi, Rupa Khanum and Tamanna Ahmed.
It is to be noted that the national anthems of three countries were performed at the beginning of the program, but the national anthem of Bangladesh was performed at the end of the program, which caused negative reactions among the audience. It has been reported that many people have found this matter to be a sight to behold.
The second day event started on Sunday, May 7 at 11 am. In the beginning there were art exhibitions and children’s painting. Rabindra Sahitya Sammelan will be held from 11 am to 2 pm. Alolika Mukhopadhyay (India) and Puravi Basu (Bangladesh) were the chief guests.
Jyoti Prakash Dutta, Syed Mohammad Ullah, Tamiz Uddin Lodi and Fakir Elias participated in the discussion titled ‘Amar Rabindranath’ directed by Hasan Ferdous. Abir Alamgir was coordinator of the recitation program ‘Rabibar’, which will be performed by New York recitation artists. Brief biography of Rabindranath Tagore at noon: Documentary report on Rabindranath’s practice in exile.
Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed was in charge. The program of the last day also included a seminar: Rabindranath- Argument in Debate. Discussant, former vice-chancellor of Bishwa Bharati. Pavitra Sarkar, Manzoor Ahmad, and Purabi Bosu. Then the English stage play “Mrinaler Patra” based on Rabindranath Tagore’s wife’s letter story. In the afternoon, the peaceful style of Rabindra Sangeet: Rabiraag. Directed by Kaveri Das. The great man comes to the concert. Nature in Performance – New York. “Rabi Kirtan” is a style of kirtan of Rabindra Sangeet. The performance was Dr. Sahana Bhattacharya. Bengali couple Kajal Mukhopadhyay and Moushumi Dutta Roy, buyers of Rabindranath’s house in America, were welcomed. In the evening there was a concert. Music in Performance (New York). Rezwana Chowdhury Banya was the special guest. Then the fashion show started – ‘Basane Bhushanne Rabir Chayan’.
At 6:30 pm Preeti Bandash was held: I am Rabindranath’s best character. Directed by Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran. Chandril Bhattacharya gave a memorial speech at 7 pm. Then the ballad Chitrangada was held. Ahana Dias and her team were in the performance. 8 pm The world is filled with light: International Rabindranath.
At 8:30 pm was the closing ceremony: Shatakanthe Rabindranath. Special presence was Rezwana Chowdhury Banya. Directed by Mahitosh Talukder Tapas. The concluding special dance performance was ‘Anand Dhara Bahiche Bhubane’ directed by Chandra Banerjee. Nrityanjali in performance. Lifetime Awards at 9: Amiya Bandyopadhyay (India) and Selima Ashraf (Bangladesh). Rezwana Chowdhury Bonya performed the music for the closing music evening at 9:30 pm.
Hasanuzzaman Saki, convenor of Rabindra event and Pinaki Talukder as media coordinator, said that with the tireless efforts of a group of young coordinators, those who worked behind the scenes in this festival for the first time are Gopal Sanal, Akbara Barua, Abdul Hamid and Sukhen Gomez. In cooperation with the program, Dr. Sahana Bhattacharya, Shuva Roy, Krish Ghosh Bappa, and Shuvadeep Ghosh. Art direction by Zaheed Sharif.
Dr. Rabindra Utsav was the chief advisor. Ziauddin Ahmed, Dr. Pavitra Sarkar, Praveer Roy, Milan Aon, Manzoor Ahmed, Hasan Ferdous, Kaushik Ahmed, Randev Sarkar, Biswajit Chakraborty, Anyi Ferdous, Nurul Amin Babu, Nazrul Mintu and Tanya Amir.
BP/M
