The first cultural delegates of the country

Asad uz Zaman Noor and Iqbal Ahmed

The cool morning breeze whisked away the tiredness of the previous night. The journey from Dhaka to Kolkata was tedious no doubt, but the group of enthusiasts beginning from dancers, singers, actors and students involved with the cultural arena turned the arduous journey into one of the most exciting and memorable one.

As the BRTC bus cut its way through the pitch black road, Ashish Kumar Louho and Saifuddin Ahmed, both actors of great repute, kept us engrossed with their spontaneous jokes throughout the night, leaving us breathless with laughter! Laila Samaad the famous authoress, charmed us all with her elegant and expressive ways! Iqbal Ahmed, the group leader for the chorus team, with his baritone voice sang the first lines of the spirited songs to which we all contributed whole heartedly. As midnight struck, some dozed off in their seats, some lay wide eyed and watched the passing village in a deep slumber.

Members of the Dhaka University Sangskitik Sangsad, and eminent artists of the country were invited to attend the first Friendship Conference, Moitry Mela at Kolkata in 1972. This was in fact the first cultural delegation abroad, after the independence of Bangladesh.

Youngest amongst the troupe of almost 30, (still in school) I too had the rare opportunity to present songs at the historic festival.

Laila Samaad, Ashish Kumar Louho, Saifuddin Ahmed, Bulbul Ahmed, Khushi Kabir and others in drama; Iqbal Ahmed, Sakera Khan, Minakhshi, Irfat, and others in the singing troupe, Sharmin Hasan, Lubna Marium and others in dance, while Mahfuz Anam, Mofidul Haque and Abul Hasnat, the officials of Sangskritik Sangsad, all headed towards the cultural meet of both India and the recently independent Bangladesh.

After breakfast at the Bongaon borders, we boarded the bus once again and reached Kolkata before noon. The ladies were housed at the South Point school at Ballyganj Place. The gents boarded another school nearby.

The next morning we moved about in small groups and took the famous 'rickshaw rides' where a rickshaw puller 'pulls' the rickshaws and there is always a genuine fear of falling down with every jerk.

I tagged along with a group and soon landed up at the New Market. The most 'happening place' for girls!

Eminent dancer Sharmin Hasan, led the way, until everyone was extremely thirsty and wanted a cool drink. All ten of us girls in beautiful saris with gorer mala, thick belii garlands on our braids stood in one of the road crossings.

For the first time, I noticed most of the buildings represented British-Indian architecture. It didn't exactly look flashy or new, but it certainly symbolised an age old history of its own.

As we drank cool green coconut water with straws, it seemed pretty unusual too. So long we had only taken coconut water directly and often splashed most of it, but this was a much easier way and was quite uncommon in our country till then. Some ordered fresh juice and some drank tea in bhars, the earthen cups, which are common in India and hygienic as it is meant for one time use only. As we laughed and talked in excited voices people from all around gave queer glances, but soon acknowledged that they knew, guest artistes from Bangladesh had come to perform. How I wished I had a camera with us then.

To be continued