Bodhon Abritti Parishad, a renowned poetry society association of the port city recently celebrated its silver jubilee under the theme “Andhar bhenge alor bunon” (Escape from darkness to the world of light).
Marking the special occasion, it organised a four-day festival which started at District Shilpakala Academy premises featuring discussions, performances of solo and group recitations by artistes from home and abroad, adda (informal discussion), parade and recitation of self-authored poems.
The festival was dedicated to two great revolutionaries of Chittagong, Master Da Surya Sen and Pritilata Waddedar who were martyred in their fight to liberate the country from British colonial rule.
The unique event started with a colourful parade from Shilpakala Academy and passed through landmark sites in the city. Dancing to the beats of dhol by Babul Jaladas and his troupe, boys in white panjabi and girls in white sari took part in the procession with banners and festoons.
Veteran anti-colonial revolutionary Binod Bihari Chowdhury inaugurated the festival as the chief guest. Later, noted reciters and actors Jayanta Chattopaddhyay, Bhaswar Bandopaddhyay and Bodhon Secretary Sohel Anwar led the discussion with Bodhon President Ranjit Rakshit chairing the session.
In his speech, Binod Bihari Chowdhury said, that youth are the only hope of the country as they have the ability to challenge the status quo. Going back to his childhood, he said that in the past, the voice was the key element in recitation.
“Nowadays the art has acquired a new dimension as it is supplemented by appropriate background music and more,” he added.
He also expressed the hope that Bodhon in conjunction with the youth would continue its active struggle against present forces of darkness by spreading the practice of this medium.
Bhaswar Bandopadhyay said, Bodhon is an assembly of visionaries who strive to create a society where there are no communal forces and he was fortunate to be closely associated with the organisation since its inception.
Jayanta Chattopadhyay said, “Institutions like Bodhon can play a significant role in building creative minds.”
Following the discussion, in darkness, members of the audience with candles in their hands recited the poem “Bodhon”, written by Sukanta Bhattacharya.
Bodhon commenced its journey on January 9, 1987 during the turmoil of autocratic rule. In 1992 the organisation published the country’s first recitation related publication “Abritti”. Bodhon also established the country’s first recitation school Bodhon Abritti School, that has generated 3,000 students who emerged from its portals.
The programme concluded with recitations by Joyanto Chattopaddhyay, Golam Sarwar and other noted reciters from Chittagong and other districts.
The festival concluded on December 28 with a discussion and conferring honour on a number of cultural personalities.
-With The Daily Star input
