Cultural evening to raise funds for flood victims

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, April 26: On the anniversary of Barak Upatyaka Lok Mancha, a two-day programme will be held at the district library auditorium, here on May 14 and 15. This was stated at a press-meet organized by the cultural group Barak Upatyaka Lok Mancha. “Various well known artists including baul singers will be performing. Our primary focus is to cater to the need of listening to traditiol songs and folk songs for the young generations,” said Sharif-Uz-Zaman Laskar, president of the Mancha.

Speaking about the importance of traditiol songs, he said, “Young generation must know and learn these traditiol folk songs and this is an honour for us that Bhojan Khypa, an illustrious disciple of Lalan Fakir, will be enthralling the audiences with his rendition of the Baul songs.” Sharif-Uz-Zaman Laskar added, “The main purpose behind the programme is to extend fincial help to the victims of flood and storm. We will provide money for the victims and give it to the District Commissioner so that he can take necessary steps in helping them.”

Owing to the torrential rain, the recent floods and storms which have created havoc and left people homeless. In such a situation, it is necessary to help them. The cultural programme is a little attempt towards this noble mission, said Laskar. The scheduled cultural programme will feature some prominent singers like Bhupati Bhushan Varma, who hails from Dhaka, Bangladesh, Dhiti Sarkar and Bhojan Khypa. He also said that the cultural programme will begin with commemoration of the 11 martyrs who laid their lives for the sake of Bengali language.

 “It is very important to commemorate them. The efforts of those martyrs inspire us,” said Sharif-Uz-Zaman Laskar. The programme will also benefit the local singers as they will learn new things about folk songs and baul sangeet. Barak Upatyaka Lok Mancha has completed its anniversary on April 13. Owing to some uvoidable circumstances, they could not organize a cultural programme. Among others present at the press-meet included Dipak th, general secretary, and Mihir Ranjan Dutta, cultural secretary, of the Manch.