The 73rd birth anniversary of eminent playwright "Natyacharya" Selim Al-Deen was observed on Jahangirnagar University campus with due respect on Thursday.
Marking the day, the Drama and Dramatics Department of the university brought out a procession from the Old Arts Faculty building premises in the morning.
JU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nurul Alam inaugurated the rally as chief guest.
Selim Al-Deen’s fellow artistes Nasiruddin Yusuff Bachchu, Chairman of JU Drama and Dramatics department Prof Israfil Ahmed, Director of JU Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) Prof Dr Alamgir Kabir, teachers of Drama and Dramatics department, renowned playwrights of the country, among others, attended the event.
Parading the main streets of the campus, the procession ended at the grave of Selim Al Deen beside the central mosque of the campus following placing of floral wreaths around 11am.
Later, Bangladesh Gram Theater, Dhaka Theater, Selim Al Deen Foundation, Jahangirnagar Theatre, Swapnodal, Taluknagar Theater, Annita Selim Al Deen Patshala and JU Teacher and Student Center (TSC) placed floral wreaths at the grave of Selim Al Deen.
Besides, the Drama and Dramatics Department organized a five-day theater performance exhibition to mark the day.
Selim Al-Deen, fondly referred to as "Natyacharya" was born on August 18, 1949 in Feni. He joined Jahangirnagar University in 1974 at the Bangla Department and later became the founder chairperson of the Drama and Dramatics Department of the university.
He died of cardiac arrest on January 14, 2008. In the post-Tagore era, his contribution to Bengali drama is considered to be unique.
Saleem Al-Deen was attracted to reading literary works at a very young age. When he turned on to admit into Dhaka University in 1966, he decided to become a writer. It was his teacher playwright Munier Chowdhury who encouraged him to focus his attention on drama.
He wrote his first radio drama “Biporit Tomosay” in 1968 while he was a university student. His first play for the theatre was “Shorpo Bishoyok Golpo” which was staged in 1972.
His close study of European culture is reflected in his initial plays. But soon he realized that the tales of rural farmers are no less heroic than the Herculean feats of Achilles or Prometheus.
Selim Al-Deen carried out extensive research for his doctoral dissertation in which he proved that the history of Bengali drama is older than that of European drama.
From 1977 to 1979, Selim Al-Deen studied Bengali Jatra which prompted him to write his first unique drama Kittonkhola.
The success of “Kittonkhola” led to creation of his subsequent works, namely, “Bashon,” “Atotai,” “Saifulmulk Badiuzzaman,” “Keramat Mangal,” “Hat Hodai,” “Chaka” and more.