Indira Gandhi Culture Centre

Pandit Jasraj performing at Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka

In recent times, prominent Indian cultural artists like Pandit Jasraj (Hindustani Classical Vocal Music), Mrs. Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta (Rabindra Sangeet), Mrs. Vidya Shah (Hindustani Classical Vocal Music), Mr. Soumitra Chattapadhyay (Poetry Recitation), Dr. Indrani Sen (Rabindra Sangeet), Mr. Abhirup Guhathakurta (Rabindra Sangeet), Mrs. Bratati Bandopadhyay (Poetry Recitation), Mrs. Monalisa Ghosh (Odissi Dance), Pandit Sarathi Chatterjee (Hindustani Classical Vocal Music), Mr. Abhishek Lahiri (Sarod recital), Mrs. Malavika Sen (Dance), Mrs. Dona Ganguly (Odissi Dance), Mrs. Jayati Chakravarty (Rabindra Sangeet) and Mrs. Debamitra Sengupta (Odissi Dance) have performed in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Shahzadpur, Shilaidah, Khulna, Barisal, Mymensingh, Jessore and other cities in Bangladesh.

Swagatalakshmi Dasgupta rendering Rabindra Sangeet at Shilpakala Academy

(ii) Joint Celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore between India and Bangladesh

The Centre played an active role in organisation of all cultural programmes of Indian artists in Bangladesh and Bangladeshi artists in India for the year-long joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore between India and Bangladesh that commenced on May 6, 2011 in both India and Bangladesh and formally concluded on May 7, 2012 in both countries. Several cultural programmes—Rabindra Sangeet, Rabindra Natya, Rabindra Nritya, Rabindra Nritya Natya, Abritti, Kantha exhibition, painting exhibitions etc involving Indian and Bangladesh artists were organised by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Bangladesh. Tagore Dance Drama—“Shyama”—by students of Patha Bhavan of the Visva Bharati University in Shantiniketan was organised by the Centre in Dhaka on September 30, 2011 and in Sylhet on October 2, 2011.

Tagore Dance Drama –“Shyama” by students of Patha Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan

A Tagore-related play –“The Bapu and the Poet” by Dr. Vijay Padaki and group from Bangalore was staged in Dhaka and Chittagong in November 2011

The Bapu and the Poet” enacted by Dr. Vijay Padaki and group in Bangladesh

Tagore-related Cultural Evenings comprising of Rabindra Sangeet by Dr. Indrani Sen and Mr. Abhirup Guhathakurta were organised in Dhaka, Shilaidah and Shahzadpur in February 2012 as part of the joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

Ms. Bratati Bandopadhyay reciting Tagore poems at Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka

Dr. Indrani Sen rendering Rabindra Sangeet at Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka

Several Tagore-related Dance Dramas and presentations were organised by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre not only in Dhaka, but also in different parts of Bangladesh as part of the joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Tagore between India and Bangladesh.

Tagore related Multimedia Production—“Shree Shakti” at Bangladesh National Museum, Dhaka

Mrs. Malavika Sen of Kalamandalam enacting Chandalika in Dhaka and Chittagong

South Gurukul led by Ms. Sutapa Talukdar enacting Rupatarer Khela in Dhaka and Chittagong

Mrs. Mahua Mukherjee & group presenting “Gaudiya Nritya—Sakal Raser Dhara” in Dhaka and Mymensingh

Mrs. Debamitra Sengupta and group enacting Chitrangada in Dhaka and Rajshahi

Tagore Dance Drama--Falguni -- being enacted by Dakshinee led by Mr. Sudeb Guhathakurta in Dhaka and Sylhet

Mrs. Dona Ganguly and group presenting “Shapmochan” in Dhaka and Jessore

Mrs. Malavika Sen and Mr. Sukalyan Bhattacharya presenting “Rabindra Rachonay Tridhara Prem” in Dhaka and Mymensingh

The Closing Ceremony of the joint celebrations of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Tagore between India and Bangladesh was held in Dhaka and New Delhi from May 607, 2012, having participation of top Indian and Bangladeshi artists. During the Tagore Closing Ceremony celebrations in Dhaka, Prof. Pabitra Bhushan Sircar participated as a Tagore expert, Mrs. Sharmila Tagore as Tagore Poetry Recitation artist (recited “Banshiwala”), Mr. Agnibha Bandopadhyay as Rabindra Sangeet exponent, Mr. Angshuman Kar and Mr. Rahul Dasgupta as Indian Poets, while the Sattriya Dance Kendra of Guwahati presented Tagore Dance drama—Chandalika—in the Sattriya Dance style from India.

Mrs. Sharmila Tagore reciting “Banshiwala” at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Tagore Dance Drama-- “Chandalika” presented by the Sattriya Kendra of Guwahati

(iii)Joint Celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of “Bidrohi” by Kazi Nazrul Islam between India and Bangladesh:

The Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in Dhaka was also instrumental in organising the 2-day long joint celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of the legendary poem, “Bidrohi” by Bangladesh’s National Poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, between India and Bangladesh.

The aforesaid joint celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of the famous poem, “Bidrohi” by Kazi Nazrul Islam between India and Bangladesh was organised in Dhaka through a 2-day long series of multifaceted cultural events from May 25-26, 2012. The event also coincided with the 113th Birth Anniversary of the great poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, on May 25, 2012.

The Hon’ble Minister for Law and Justice and Minority Affairs of India, H.E. Mr. Salman Khurshid, visited Bangladesh from May 24-27, 2012, to participate as the Guest of Honor from India for the joint celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of “Bidrohi” by Kazi Nazrul Islam between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka. Mr. Khurshid led a delegation of three Members of Parliament from India besides Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, GoI, for the Nazrul joint celebrations in Dhaka.

Mr. Khurshid along with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina participated in a special function organised for the Nazrul joint celebrations at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in Dhaka on May 25, 2012. Several diverse cultural programmes comprising of Nazrul Geeti, Nazrul Poetry Recitations, Dance based on “Bidrohi”, seminars, etc were subsequently held in Dhaka having participation of top Indian and Bangladeshi cultural artists and literary personnel from May 25-26, 2012.

On May 25, 2012, the joint celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the publication of “Bidrohi” by Kazi Nazrul Islam between India and Bangladesh was formally inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Law & Justice and Minority Affairs of India and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre in the forenoon.

Dignitaries of India and Bangladesh on the dais during the formal Inauguration Ceremony of the joint Nazrul celebrations between India and Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister and Hon’ble Minister for Law & Justice and Minority Affairs of India during the formal Closing session

The joint Nazrul celebration saw participation of top Indian and Bangladeshi artists for cultural performances.

Mrs. Sushmita Goswami from India rendering Nazrul Geeti at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Mr. Prodip Ghosh reciting Nazrul Poems at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka