It is high time that society and the nation treat women, which is half of its population, equally. The contribution of women from homemaking to agriculture, education to defense is no less significant and voluminous than that of their male counterparts.
Such theme was addressed in a spectacular dance-drama titled Pala Bodoler Pala (Performing Change) on Thursday at Bangla Academy auditorium.
The dance-drama focused on one category of women professionals, that is, the female farmers whose number is not negligible in the agriculture sector of the country. The production focused the struggles and strengths of female farmers and also insinuated what should be and can be done.
Facilitated by Shadhona, a centre for advancement of south Asian culture, a group of young artistes from Bogra-based cultural organisation Amra Kojon and a number of female farmers performed in the production.
This particular production was highly charged with strong social messages for a target audience. Yet, the performance did not lack in terms of aesthetic appeal. Directors of the production, Shamim Hasan and Sabbir Rahman Khan, managed well to incorporate beautiful dance recitals in the message-based dance-drama.
The messages conveyed in the production are thus that female farmers must be given governmental help as par with the male farmers. Female farmers must be ensured technical and technological helps; and they must have access to modern, dynamic markets.
‘The dance drama will be staged in many places across the country to generate awareness in people. It will be primarily presented in those regions of the country where female farmers are many in number’, said Lubna Marium, general secretary of Shadhona.
‘The production was very pertinent in its message. It speaks of a class of women about who we do not hear much about even among the women rights activists’, said Shireen Huq, a women’s rights activist, who was present at the show as a special guest.
International non-profit organisation Oxfam and its food justice campaign GROW sponsored and organised the production.
-With New Age input
