Feature

Raktakarabi
Across the border

Sristi Barua

WHILE I was shivering from fever in the comfort of my home, my friends were preparing for their most exciting and dreamlike journey of their lives. We were invited by a social organization of India named Nobo Niharika Sangha. I was cursing my fate that I missed out this golden opportunity merely for my homesickness and docility. Anyway no matter whether I was an absentee or not, it's a matter of great delight and pride that my group Raktakarabi had been crowned the honor of performing across the border and held the audience spellbound. I was ecstatic to get the news of their successful performance from Prothom Alo.

Fulki, 'cultural world of children', directs Raktakarabi, a cultural organization. Its Principal Shila Momen had recently won an award of 'Ananna shera 10', 2009 in the category of education. Shila di has sown the seeds of music in the minds of young people, she makes us realize the great words of Rabindranath, where we got to communicate with God and nature.

With a view to represent Chittagong as well as Bangladesh, this time a group of young singers presented songs on the theme of Swadesh (Homeland).

The whole trip was admixture of tension, excitement and joy. Our team started from Chittagong on 22 April. For the next few days, they remained busy with the rehearsals for a perfect presentation. On 25 April Raktakarabi performed on Modhusudan stage. They presented a package of patriotic songs that was named 'Morme Gatha Biswamoyi'. The whole composition was arranged chronologically starting from the year 1905, in time of Bangavanga, Jalalabad war, Language movement, and The War of Liberation. The young singers of our group arrested the attention of audience till the last with the songs of patriotic zeal written by famous writers and musicians like Abdul latif, Romesh shil, Gurusodoy Dutt, Govinda Haldar Rabindranath, Atulprasad, D.L.Roy. Reciter Rashed Hasan's wonderful recitation related enhanced the beauty of whole composition. The selection of songs, standard of music, dazzling appearance in red and green outfit everything impressed the audience.

The next day they produced another praiseworthy performance on 'Surjasen stage' on the occasion of Jalalabad Bidroho dibosh, arranged by Biplobtirtho Chittagong Sriti sangha'. It was a really matter of great fortune to sing in the midst of the congregation of learned people and connoisseurs of music. Our team members noticed while staying in West Bengal that the people are very curious, tolerant and passionate to enjoy good standard of singing. On 27 April an informal progamme was arranged in Thakuria. An encouraging presence of many high profiled people like famous mathematician Mihir Chakravarty, Poetess Namita Singh, athlete and actor Pradeep chatergee and so on made the evening a blissful one. The members of Roktakarabi were amazed to see the modesty and simplicity of those learned persons who made the unostentatious environment a significant one. Another surprise for them was meeting famous singer Srikanta. We were extremely delighted when Srikanta dedicated one of his songs to the friends who came from Chittagong.

After the 3-day hectic programme my friends made the most fascinating and thrilling journey to 'The land of cloud', Darjeeling. They passed all the way in gossiping, merry making, singing and by enjoying exquisite landscape. When their car was running through 8000 feet above from plain land, the curls of floating cloud was like dancing with them. One after one they visited Mirickh, Rockgarden, Japanese Temple of Darjeeling. The zigzag roads, beautiful hills, waterfall, hanging lake all seemed very divine to them.

This heavenly and memorable tour had broadened their mind and illuminates their soul. Their heart was filled with contentment by the hospitality, adoration, cordiality they received by the artists and other people of Kolkata. This endeavor of exchanging culture will ultimately pave the way to establish fraternity and friendship between two countries.

Thus, in this age of remix and fusion in music, Raktakarabi is a promising organization to win peoples' hearts by unornamented but pure singing style.

(The writer is a student of Chittagong Collage)