Cultural shows mark Nazrul celebrations at Darirampur

Colourful cultural shows marked Nazrul celebrations at Darirampur Nazrul Mancha in Trishal of Mymensingh. The three-day celebrations marking the bard's 118th birth concluded on May 27.

Cultural Affairs Ministry and Mymensingh district administration jointly organised the celebrations that included a colourful rally, discussions, cultural shows, staging of plays, poets' gathering, and more.

Eminent Nazrul artistes from Dhaka and Mymensingh enthralled the huge audience with their classical performance.

Fatema Tuz Zohra, Ferdous Ara and Nishat Afza Arzoo held the audience captive with their mesmerising renditions. The artistes rendered popular songs of Nazrul such as -- “Gonthon Kholo Parul Monjury”; “Tumi Jokhon Esechhely”, “Tumi Haat Khani Jobe”, “Dur Deep Bashini”, “Mone Pore Aaj” and more.

Artistes of some 85 cultural organisations and drama troupes of Mymensingh also performed at the celebrations, said Professor Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan, convener of the cultural sub-committee of the celebrations.

The organisations included Mymensingh Nazrul Academy, Zila Shilpakala Academy, Udichi Shilpi Goshthi, Sandipon Sangskritik Sangstha, Bahurupi Natya Sangstha, Bidrohi Natya Goshthi and many more.

A 'Nazrul Mela' with traditional items was also held, attended by thousands of village folk during the festival.

Nazrul, born in Bardwan of West Bengal in India on May 25 in 1899, stayed at Trishal for a year and studied at Darirampur High School. Police sub-inspector Kazi Rafizullah, then working at Bardwan took Nazrul to his Trishal's Kazir Shimla village in 1913.

Earlier, Principal Motiur Rahman, Minister for Religious Affairs, inaugurated the celebrations as chief guest. Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy director of Local Government Department Mymensingh presided over the opening ceremony while Md Abu Zafar Ripon, upazila nirbahi officer of Trishal delivered the welcome speech.

Poet Mohammad Nurul Huda, Khilkhil Kazi and Nazrul researcher AFM Hayatullah delivered speeches on Nazrul.

Terming Nazrul as great contributor to Bengali literature, the speakers said that through his fiery writings and songs, the poet inspired the people to fight against injustice, repression and get their rights. “Nazrul songs also inspired freedom fighters to fight against the Pakistani army during the War of Liberation in 1971,” they added.