Tagore's legacy overseas

Dr Ikhtyar Omar and daughter Sharmeen perform at the album launch

Says Omar, "I attachment to Bangladesh runs strong. The aim of the organisation is to promote Bengali culture, music, dance, literature and films." Bangla Utsab holds biennale cultural programmes and also celebrates major occasions such as the birth and death anniversaries of Tagore and Nazrul, Ekushey and Eid.

Omar's forte is Rabindra sangeet. Every year he participates in musical programmes in Edmonton along with his wife Nadira and daughter Sharmeen.

How does he explain the popularity of the great bard in far flung Canada? In his words, "The richness of Tagore's songs and his compositions lives on. He has written for every occasion -- be it birth, death, happiness, the six seasons, tree plantation, environment and even appropriate technology."

Omar performed at a cultural programme organised by the Rabindranath Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, recently. The function was held at Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Another of Omar's achievements is the upcoming release of a joint CD of Rabindra sangeet with Sharmeen, based here. Titled Ananta Anandhara, the CD was released recently at the Goethe Institute.

Omar has trained under Tagore exponents such as Sanjida Khatun and Wahidul Huq from Bangladesh and Shailaja Ranjan Majumder, Nilima Sen from India.

Functions to promote Rabindra Sangeet are important, believes Omar, "not only for the first generation of Bangladeshi expats but also for their children to imbibe Bengali cultural traditions."

Clearly this will enable many Bangladeshis to go back to their roots. "Toronto and Montreal are larger than Edmonton but people are still clinging on to their roots," asserts Omar. And Tagore continues to remain in the hearts of Canadians. Some universities, such as the University of Toronto have chairs named after Tagore while others promote Rabindra sangeet along with eastern and South Asian music.