André Malraux was a man of versatile talents; a French novelist, art theorist, the author of The Human Condition, the commander of a squadron in the Spanish civil war, the French resistance fighter, General de Gaulle’s ,Minister for Culture and a winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt. In addition to that, he is one of the dearest friends of Bangladesh.
In 1971, he actively raised about awareness three million Bengali deaths by the end of the war. He declared that he was ready to go to fight on their side, but his plans did not come to fruition. His announcement, however, helped to grab the attention of many countries around the world.
In order to honour him, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Bangladesh and the Embassy of France in Dhaka, Alliance Française and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy are coming together to organise a series of events titled, “Remembering André Malraux” on November 23 2016 at 10.30am at Jatiyo Chitrashala Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
A press session was organised yesterday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Seminar Hall, Jatio Nattoshala) where Bruno Plasse, director of Alliance Française de Dhaka and Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy shared their views about the event.
Bruno Plasse said, “Malraux is one of the most prominent friends of Bangladesh. He is a freedom fighter. He created a new history of friendship between France and Bangladesh. As a culture - and freedom-loving people, we French people are proud that such a towering figure should also belong to the history of Bangladesh and be dear to the hearts of many Bangladeshis. All those who lived through the darkest hours of the Liberation War will remember how Malraux’s call to come to the help of the Bangladesh independence movement gave them reasons to hope. In the vigorous pronouncements of André Malraux, in his call to arms, in his letter to President Nixon, they knew they had found a spokesman who was forcefully defending their cause in the international arena.”
Liaquat Ali Lucky mentioned, “We didn't evoke Malraux for being a friend, he evoked us. Even after 40 years, we still and will continue to remember him.”
The programme schedule features two exhibitions titled, “Drawing Freely” and “Novembre à Paris”, to be held at the lobby of Jatiyo Chitrashala Auditorium, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from Wednesday, November 23. A reading session by The Reading Circle CD on Man’s Fate (English translation of La condition humaine), winner of The Goncourt Prize in 1933, the screening of Espoir - Sierra de Teruel, film adaptation of L’Espoir, directed by André Malraux and Boris Peskine on Tuesday, November 22, a drama performance titled, Asha, directed by Ashim Das, Fame, “Chittagong Speech” by Md Shamsul Arefin, deputy commissioner of Chittagong on Saturday, November 26.
Asaduzzaman Noor, minister of Cultural Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, Sophie Aubert, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh, Mario Palma, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh and Prof Dr A A M S Arefin Siddique, vice chancellor, University of Dhaka will present the main event.