Cultural icons voice out their memories

Ajit Roy and Shimul Yousuff rendering patriotic songs at the Liberation War Museum

She shared memories of those days of struggle against the Pakistani rulers. She informed that she has been observing Ekushey for the last 52 years and recalled, 'In those days we used to go to the Shaheed Minar bare footed and also to the graveyards of the martyrs singing the inspiring songs like Amar shonar Bangla.' She said that the passionate feelings of those days could never be compared with those of today. She regretted that politics in every sphere of life has spoilt the whole situation of commemorating Ekushey after the Liberation War.

Dr. Sanjida Khatun regretted that we don't feel the urge to revolt against the disorder and crime that are taking place in society nowadays. 'When we see the news of homicide and torture on human beings in the newspaper, we somehow don't feel the urge to revolt against it anymore.'

Veteran singer Ajit Roy shared his memories with the journalists before he performed the spirited songs of our Language Movement. He said, 'It was in 1963 when Altaf Mahmud came back home from Karachi, all of us -- Altaf Mahmud, Sheikh Lutfur Rahman, Abdul Latif , Zahidur Rahim and I rendered songs to observe Ekushey at the Shaheed Minar.' Ajit Roy said that it was a full moon night and they were determined not to sing any other songs except the special ones meant for the month of February.

Later Jayanta Chattyapadhaya recited poems on Ekushey, written by the celebrated poets like Al Mahmud, Nirmalendu Goon, Asad Chowdhury, Robiul Hossain, Birendra Chattyapadhaya and Nirendranath Chakravorty. Shimul Yousuff rendered spirited songs of Ekushay like Ghumer deshey ghum bhangate and Ei path ei kalo path, which have been composed by great composers like Altaf Mahmud and Mahmudun Nabi. Poet Rabiul Hossain hosted the programme.