Chhayanaut celebrates Sanjida Khatun’s birth anniversary with spring tribute
Chhayanaut marked the 93rd birth anniversary of eminent cultural figure Sanjida Khatun on Saturday (April 4) with a spring-themed programme in the capital, celebrating her lifelong commitment to music and a plural, conflict-free society.
Born in Dhaka in 1933, Khatun remains one of the central figures in Bangladesh’s cultural movement. The event, held at Chhayanaut Sanskriti Bhaban, paid tribute to her ideals through music, dance and reflection.
The programme opened with a group dance performance set to Rabindranath Tagore’s “Amar boney boney”. This was followed by musical performances drawing from the works of Kazi Nazrul Islam, including “Dola lagilo” and “Boshonto elo elo re”. Singer Iffat Ara Dewan performed Tagore’s “Noyon mele dekhi amay”, while a dance piece titled “Shundor” added to the evening’s repertoire.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Speaking at the event, Chhayanaut President Sarwar Ali said, “Sanjida Khatun worked throughout her life to build a liberal and conflict-free society, using music as her primary medium.”
He added, “Historically, in this subcontinent—especially in Bangladesh—the deep crisis of identity stems from the tension between religious belief and national identity. Sanjida Khatun spent years trying to find a way to uphold faith while embracing a shared cultural identity. Music was her tool, drawing from Lalon, Tagore, Nazrul, and Shah Abdul Karim, all of whom envisioned such a society.”
The programme concluded with a rendition of the national anthem, accompanied by traditional instruments including sitar, tabla, flute and esraj.
Khatun’s association with music and culture began early. While studying at the University of Dhaka, she took part in the 1952 Language Movement. She later completed her master’s degree in Bangla language and literature from Visva-Bharati University.
In 1961, alongside her husband Wahidul Haque, she co-founded Chhayanaut, which went on to become one of the leading institutions for music education and cultural activism in the region.
Through Chhayanaut, she played a pivotal role in promoting Bengali music and cultural identity, particularly during periods of political and cultural suppression. After Bangladesh’s independence, she expanded cultural outreach nationwide and helped establish the Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad.
A scholar and writer, Khatun authored several works on music, culture and education. Her contributions earned her major honours, including the Ekushey Padak, Bangla Academy Literary Award, Rabindra Smriti Purashkar (India), Desikottam Award (India), and India’s Padma Shri in 2021.
Sanjida Khatun passed away on March 25 last year, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape Bangladesh’s cultural consciousness.
Comments