The indigenous Poetry and Cultural Festival-2005

Indigenous artistes performing an ethnic number at the inaugural event

The Aborigine Cultural Development Association organised the function.

The festival attracted several hundred indigenous people as well as a number of renowned poets from Dhaka. The speakers at the inaugural session were unanimous that the Bangalee culture would be bereft of meaning if indigenous traditions were not protected.

They also maintained that the protection of a culture ensures safeguarding of cultural elements. It also ensures fundamental rights to land, property, education and the use of mother-tongue.

The subcontinent's renowned litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque inaugurated the festival. National Aborigine Council (NAC) president Anil Marandi chaired the function.

Prominent poets from Dhaka Habibullah Sirajee, Samudra Gupta, Bulbul Moholanabish, Mohon Raihan, Fazlul Haque Ripon, Nasreen Rahman, Chaitee Sayeed, Jhon Kisku and workers party politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha, Mesbah Kamal of DU, AHM Zehadul Karim of RU and NAC general secretary Rabindra Nath Saren took part at the discussion.

The speakers demanded government measures to ensure indigenous' education and return of their lands, occupied allegedly by influential persons. The indigenous people who had gathered for the occasion comprised of several ethnic groups such as, Santal, Orao, Mandi, Raioar and Pahadi.

After the discussion, a colourful function of different groups delighted the audience. Samson Hazda, a student of Rajshahi University, recited his own poem that described the current day sufferings of ethnic boys and girls.

Sabina Saren, Aroti Murmu, Shefali Baske and their troops presented a Santal song and dance. The song -- Tahareta Nana Tarna, Hoire Santal Boyhe Tainom re Minkee --was thought provoking. Aloti Saren, Shamoli Tudu and Pari Tudu presented Amin Marang Dharoti Talaye amogi Adivasim japi akoye. This song tells of the indigenous people's isolation from the rest of the world.

Basanti Murmu's Lagre song - Horer buke agun jole, Santal pogona jole, Pund pushi kuthir jole tari dabanole portrayed the tormented souls of the ethnic people.

Orao men, women and children presented a Sadri song with Gobra music and traditional dance - Hami e kam korila, haminike adhikar darker, selagun mia awathi.

Rajoar Pahari young girls and children rendered a chorus - Pohelta saban sibartam -- that meant, the first word I was taught and wrote is "mother" in my mother tongue.