Homage to Waheedul Haq
Music and recitation at Chhayanat Sangskriti Bhaban
Cultural Correspondent
Waheedul Haq: Veteran journalist, Tagore exponent, teacher, social-cultural activist and organiser. Haq played a key role in the revival of the Bengali identity and tirelessly worked to maintain a secular spirit in the country. He was the founder of Chhayanat, which played a significant role in the political-cultural movements during late 1960s, prior to the country's Liberation War. Apart from establishing Chhayanat in 1961, Haq also founded a number prominent cultural organisations like Kanthashilon, Nalonda, Anandadhani, Fulki, Bratochari Samity and Bashanto Utsab Udjapon Parishad. He formed Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad in 1980. A multifaceted talent, Haq was also involved with filmmaking and film movements.The cultural icon passed away on January 27 and his body has been donated for medical research. On February 1, Chhayanat along with 7 other leading cultural organisations, paid homage to Waheedul Haq. The event was held at Chhayanat Sangskriti Bhaban. Teachers, students of Chhayanat, eminent cultural personalities and members of organisations expressed their individual and collective emotions through songs and recitation. The event started with a chorus rendition of Shurer Guru, daogo shurer deekkha. In between, records of Tagore songs by Waheedul Haq were played. Renowned cultural personality Aly Zaker reminisced on Haq, calling him "Shurer feriwala" (vendor of tunes). Zaker said, "Waheed bhai's inspiration was the masses. He had always encouraged collective efforts. He is known for his impeccable knowledge on Tagore songs and literature and his profession was journalism, however he was equally passionate about science. Walking around, he could name any tree (including scientific names) at random. His demise is a personal loss." Noted Tagore exponent Sanjida Khatun rendered Akhono gelo na aandhar. A chorus rendition of Tumi jey shurer agoon lagiye diley mor praney by young students was next. Iffat Ara Dewan sang Ei kothati mon-e rekho. The evening moved ahead with recitation by noted cultural personality Asaduzzaman Noor, along with Bhashwar Bandyopadhyay, Hasan Arif, Golam Sarwar and others. Solo performances by leading artistes -- Khayrul Anam Shakil, Mita Haq, Subir Nandi, Chandana Majumdar, Papya Sarwar, Tapan Mahmud -- and chorus renditions by students, teachers of Chhayanat, artistes of Jatiya Rabindra Sangeet Sammilon Parishad, Bratochari and Anandadhani followed. The programme ended with a 10-minute documentary on Haq and the National Anthem. The auditorium was packed from brim to brim; the air heavy with the aroma of flowers and tears sparkled even in the soft light of candles. Waheedul Haq lives on in the convictions of his admirers, students and friends.
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Sanjida Khatun renders a song at the programme. PHOTO: STAR |
