Feature

15th ACE at North South University

FROM the beginning of our day till we go to sleep at night we play with "colors". There is color everywhere; in the clothes we wear, furniture we use, in our houses, in every object both sentient and inanimate and in the beauty of nature. Apart from color being in substantial objects, how many of us have ever thought that color also resides in every human being's heart? And how many of us do actually know the value of the colors residing in our hearts? May be none of us know that, or rather we do not even seek to comprehend it. A small attempt to extract and portray the colors of heart properly was depicted in the recent 15th Annual Cultural Evening (ACE) organized by NSUSS (North South University Shangskritik Shangathan).

Newaz, Ria, Moba and Partho are four friends. Though Moba is a little cowardly, the other three are quite courageous. At the beginning of the event they can be seen on a planchet. In their attempt to call the spirit of Adolph Hitler, they lose their way in to the world of ghosts themselves. After going in to the world of ghosts they get acquainted to a crowd of colorful ghosts. Ghosts who are utterly simple and naive. In their kingdom the ambiance of celebration and joy is eternal. They dance, they sing, and are always available for helping each other out. They do not know what gluttony and conflict is. The love that exists between them is also very gentle. They are satisfied with what little they receive. Their desires are limited.

When the four friends enter the world of the ghosts, the ghosts accept them easily. The ghosts recognize them as their deity. And this inflicts the desire for power and greed in Nawaz and Ria's mind as they seek to take advantage of the innocence of the ghosts. Partho takes a step to prevent this because he believes that achieving something by deceiving these ghosts is not worth it. It is just a misuse of these ghosts' purity. Eventually the appalling appearance of Nawaz and Ria is revealed to Partho. Partho feels remorseful that it took him so long to recognize the real face of the people he has known for so long.

Where there existed a serene relationship between all, in that same society of ghosts resides surliness.

Every ghost today conspires against a fellow ghost; they have learnt how to swindle others and how to entrap them. In this way, just because of two humans, in a very little time their familiar colorful world became overshadowed by darkness, and darkness means "black", all their colors vanish in a jiffy. They can no longer judge between right and wrong, they are now just puppets of two extremely powerful evil existences called humans.

Partho tries very hard but fails to save the ghosts from the grasp of his wicked friends. Because of his failure Partho tries to escape the kingdom of the ghosts. No one trusts anyone anymore in that society. Newaz and Ria construct two distinct groups. A war breaks between the two groups. However, everyone loses because the lifeless ghosts lose their existence as soon as the colors of their lives fade away. Partho thinks of rejuvenation a colorful world with the ghosts…where no one like Newaz or Ria would exist to provoke them, or seize the colors from their lives.

Faculty advisor Dr. Deena Forkan, club coordinator Dr. Selim Sarwar, pro vice chancellor, vice chancellor, boards of governors and chairman of the North South University Foundation were also present at the event. The programme was appreciated as an effort to uphold the Bengali Culture and Heritage. NSUSS is thankful to the audience for their whole-hearted participation.