Letter From Faridpur
Literary Roundup
Faridpur town is a sanctuary of literary and cultural activities. It is the birthplace of the great folk poet Jasimuddin and noted litterateur Humayun Kabir. Literary activities and commemoration meetings on these two poets are usually held. Jasim Palli Mela is held every year in the month of January at the ancestral home of the poet in order to celebrate his life and works. Discussions, the staging of dramas, recitations and songs and dances fill the air of the fair premises on a regular basis. Jasim Foundation and the local district administration jointly organize the fair. A colourful souvenir is also published subsequent to the holding of the fair highlighting the aesthetic values and power of Poet Jasimuddin's literary works.
Faridpur Sahitya Sangskriti Unnayan Sangstha, a very distinguished name for the promotion of literary and cultural activities here, has been playing a most significant role in the field of literature since 1969. During the days of the historic Mass Upsurge of the late '60s, this organization played the leading role in inspiring students and other educated youths. The birth and death anniversaries of the major poets of Bangla literature are usually held in its own auditorium. Special programmes on Rabindranath, Nazrul, Jasimuddin, Sukanto, and Lalon Fakir are undertaken by this organization. Pahela Boishakh, the International Mother Language Day, Independence Day and victory Day are observed by this organization in a befitting manner. This is the only organization in Faridpur town that remains open every day for literary activities. It also patronizes the literary activtivities of other pro-Liberation and progressive organizations. It acts as a meeting place for all those in this region who love literature. The prestigious Alawal Purushkar (Alawal Award) is given by this organization for outstanding literary achievement. Professor Z R Siddiqui, Sukumar Barua, Samudra Gupta, Abu Hena Mustafa Kamal, Selina Hossain, A Z Obaidullah, Maidul Islam, Omar Ali, Shahidul Jahir, Khaleda Edib Chowdhury, Asim Saha, Syed Shamsul Haque, Mamunur Rashid, Shawkat Ali, Akhtaruzzaman Ilias, Rahat Khan, Mahbub Sadique, K Ashraf Hossain and Nasrin Jahan have been awarded with this prestigious Alawal Award from this organization. A magazine named 'Prottoy' is published from this organization on the 21st of February every year. At present the organization is suffering from resource constraints and consequently the Alawal Award is not being given as usual. But, like a flickering lamp struggling to give out light, it continues its struggles in the literary and cultural arena.
Faridpur Sahitya Parishad, another literary organization, also arranges discussions and literary competitions on important historic days. The problem is that it has lost its secular outlook. Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad is another well-known name for the literary and cultural activities in Faridpur town. This organization holds discussions, seminars, literary competitions and musical events at regular intervals. Faridpur Debate Forum, an organization devoted to debating clubs and the holding of debates, is active and well, running a debate school, holding debate competitions and seminars on the topic. They arrange for a publication to come out after holding their annual debate festival.
The other organization that play important roles in the field of literary activities are Jatiyo Kabita Parishad, Nazrul Parishad, Jasimuddin Parishad, Udichi, Khelaghor, and Fulki. Khelaghor and Fulki render their literary activities among children. The local branches of both Shishu Academy and Shilpakala Academy play very important roles in Faridpur's cultural and literary life, the former in the development of creative thinking among children, while the latter acts as the moderator or chief patron in diverse literary competitions. They also arrange discussion on literature.
A good number of organizations are working on drama. Drama activities are getting popular in Faridpur town because of the tireless endeavours of some creative theater directors like Kazi Anwarul Islam Rumee, Aminur Rahman Farid, Alam Khan, Abu Sufian Chowdhury Kushal and M Nizam. Faridpur Theatre, Boishakhi Natyagoshthi, Suniom Natyachakra, Kheali Natyagoshthi and Bahurupi are working on dramatics. Staging drama festivals or plays are now a regular feature in Faridpur. Town Theatre also patronizes a good number of dramatic shows. People of all ages have developed a fascination for such dramatic performances.
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