Anniversary celebration of Prangone Mor

(L-R) Asaduzzaman Noor MP, Ananta Hira, Asad Chowdhury and Nikhil Sen are seen at the discussion programme

The songs of Mukunda Das were presented each day of the anniversary celebration. Moreover, the topic of the workshops, seminar and discussions was also on Charan Kabi (bard) Mukunda Das. Based on Das, the troupe put up its new production titled Loko Nayak. Seasoned theatre activist Nikhil Sen conducted the workshops and presented a keynote paper at the seminar.

The main event of the three-day celebration was held on May 6 at Mahila Samity Stage. On the day, renowned cultural activists of the country such as Asad Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman Noor, MP and others carried out a discussion on the seminar paper read by Nikhil Sen.

The title of the seminar was 'Social commitment of artist: Bard Mukunda Das and Artistes of the day'. Renowned poet-playwright-novelist Syed Shamsul Haq was the chief guest while acclaimed jatra artiste Jyotsna Biswas was the special guest of the programme.

Mukunda Das (1878-1934) began writing nationalist songs and folk plays based on the anti-British swadeshi movement. In his songs, Das called for the boycott of foreign goods and described the oppression by the British in simple, vivid language. Enraged by his songs such as Chhilo dhan gola bhora/ shet indure karlo sara (Granaries filled with rice/ destroyed by white mice), Bhoy ki morone rakhite shontane/ matongi metechhe aaj shomor rong, the British government arrested him. However, Das remained undaunted. During the non-cooperation movement in 1922 and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930, he continued to inspire people with his songs and plays.

Discussants in the programme urged contemporary artistes to display similar social commitment.