Barisal Divisional Nazrul Utsav ended at BFJ auditorium in the city on Saturday, with a call for collective initiatives to popularise the poet’s songs and expand the study on his life and works.
The day-long festival was divided into two parts – discussion on life and achievement of Nazrul and cultural function with rendering his songs and reciting his poems - with Nurul Amin Chowdhury, president of Bivagio Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad in the chair.
Bangladesh’s National Poet Nazrul Islam’s works speak not only of love and devotion, but also strongly protests against various forms of oppression — slavery, communalism, feudalism and colonialism, said audience at the discussion.
It would be easier to popularise his songs with the help of electronic media if the singers, performers and the media play a responsible role, they said.
The discussion styled as ‘Amarey Debona Bhulitey’ (Won’t let you forget me) was jointly organised by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad (NSSP).
Khalilur Rahman Faruk, a noted literary personality, presented the key note of the discussion.
The sessions were addressed among others by Sujit Mustafa , secretary general, Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad, Manabendra Batobayal, central committee member of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy , Prof Shamsuddin Khan, advisor and Shahiduzzaman Mamun, divisional secretary of NSSP’s Barisal divisional unit, Syed Dulal, Kajal Ghosh, cultural and group theatre activists, Prof Md Hanif, a educationist.
The speakers said Nazrul has enriched the music industry by writing over 4000 songs. He contributed to enriching almost every genre of Bangla music such as ghazal, kirtan (devotional songs), romantic songs, revolutionary songs and many others.
Popularity of Nazrul Sangeet was at its peak in 1920s to 1930s. But it became critical in 1940s as he fell ill then and his songs began to be practiced in a distorted way in the name of modern songs in India’s Kolkata, they observed.
Currently, the media is reaching every horizon every day while Dhaka has become the hub of practicing and rearing Bengali culture. Yet, Nazrul songs are not reaching the expected number of people, the speakers said.
They called for conveying the message of non-communal humanity and dignity, of which Nazrul spoke in his poetry and songs, across the world. The dissemination of his poetry and songs is important in the present context of the world infested with violence, fundamentalism and bigotry.
Murad Ahmed, Azmal Hossain Labu, Sujit Mustafa, Murshida Jahan, recitation artists, Nazrul Sangeet singers, participated in the cultural part of the festival.