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Chhayanaut
The Chhayanaut (Bengali: ছায়ানট) is an institution devoted to Bengali culture, founded in Bangladesh in 1961. As in the case of many similar organizations, it was established during Pakistani rule in Bangladesh to promote and nurture the cultural and musical heritage of Bengal. Every year, Chhayanaut arranges activities in order to celebrate the Pahela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali new year.
Chhayanaut hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year. These include the Nababarsha or 'Bengali New Year' celebration held beneath the Banyan Tree at Ramna, commemorations of various national holidays, festivals dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam including their birth and death anniversaries, as well as seasonal programs. Additionally, they organize folklore and folk music festivals, theatre festivals, dance ceremonies, and speeches by esteemed experts. Among their regular activities, Chhayanaut operates a music center and a cultural and general education school called "Nalanda." They also conduct a program called "Shikhad" to introduce children to Bengali culture. They have initiatives to provide activities for autistic babies as well as the elderly. Furthermore, they publish a Bengali quarterly magazine titled "Bangladesher Hridoy Hote" that focuses on literature and culture.
In 1964, on the occasion of Bengali new year 1371, Chhayanaut began celebrating Bengali New Year under the banyan tree at Ramna Park. Over time, this celebration grew into a major national cultural event. Chhayanaut also organizes programs to commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore (25th Boishakh and 22nd Srabon), as well as seasonal festivals like Autumn and Spring Festival.
In the 1960s, the military regime of Pakistan banned the performance and broadcast of Rabindra Sangeet in then-East Pakistan. In defiance of the ban, legendary Rabindra Sangeet singer Kalim Sharafi, along with others, helped establish Chhayanaut, an organization dedicated to music, drama, and dance. Despite the prohibition, branches of Chhayanaut spread discreetly across district towns like an underground network. After the centenary celebration of Rabindranath Tagore in 1961, a group of cultural activists, among them Mokhlesur Rahman (popularly known as Sidhu Bhai), Shamsunnahar Rahman, Sufia Kamal, and Wahidul Haq, took the initiative to form a progressive cultural organization. The name "Chhayanaut" (signifies the shade of a tree) was proposed by Saeedul Hasan.
In 1961, the first executive committee of Chhayanaut was formed with Sufia Kamal as President and Farida Hasan as General Secretary. Zahur Hossain Chowdhury and Saeedul Hasan served as Vice Presidents, while Saifuddin Ahmed Manik and Mizanur Rahman Chhana were Joint Secretaries. Mokhlesur Rahman was the Treasurer. Other members included Kamal Lohani, Waheedul Haq, Sanjida Khatun, and Ahmedur Rahman, among others.
Chhayanaut held its first program at the Engineers Institute auditorium, which featured a collection of old Bengali songs. In 1963, under the initiative of Sanjida Khatun, music classes were started on the verandah of the Bangla Academy. Sanjida Khatun and Farida Malik taught Rabindra Sangeet, Bazlul Karim taught tabla, Mati Mia taught violin and sitar, and Sohrab Hossain taught Nazrul Geeti. That same year, the Chhayanaut Music School was officially established and inaugurated by Ustad Ayet Ali Khan on the first day of the Bengali year 1370 (1963 CE).
Chhayanaut’s early activities began at the English Preparatory School (Later renamed as Udayan Higher Secondary School). Due to government pressure, the organization had to relocate its operations to Agrani School and College, and later to Lake Circus Girls’ School out of fear of further obstruction. Chhayanaut remained there until 1971.
When the Liberation War began in 1971, many key figures of Chhayanaut, including Wahidul Haque and Sanjida Khatun, were forced to take refuge abroad. In Kolkata, they, along with other like-minded artists, formed the Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha (Freedom Fighters' Artists' Association). Many prominent artists outside of Chhayanaut also joined this collective. The group performed regularly in refugee camps and freedom fighters' bases, using music and art to inspire and uplift the spirit of resistance. As part of this effort, the group staged a musical play titled Rupantorer Gaan, written by Shahriar Kabir. The script underwent several changes over time. They performed at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, where legendary artists such as Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata Biswas, Kanika Bandopadhyay, and Suchitra Mitra joined and sang in solidarity. The group raised funds through these performances, and each of them would contribute the money they earned individually to a collective fund dedicated to supporting the liberation movement. This historic cultural movement later became the subject of filmmaker Tareque Masud’s documentary Muktir Gaan.
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Chhayanaut
The Chhayanaut (Bengali: ছায়ানট) is an institution devoted to Bengali culture, founded in Bangladesh in 1961. As in the case of many similar organizations, it was established during Pakistani rule in Bangladesh to promote and nurture the cultural and musical heritage of Bengal. Every year, Chhayanaut arranges activities in order to celebrate the Pahela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali new year.
Chhayanaut hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year. These include the Nababarsha or 'Bengali New Year' celebration held beneath the Banyan Tree at Ramna, commemorations of various national holidays, festivals dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam including their birth and death anniversaries, as well as seasonal programs. Additionally, they organize folklore and folk music festivals, theatre festivals, dance ceremonies, and speeches by esteemed experts. Among their regular activities, Chhayanaut operates a music center and a cultural and general education school called "Nalanda." They also conduct a program called "Shikhad" to introduce children to Bengali culture. They have initiatives to provide activities for autistic babies as well as the elderly. Furthermore, they publish a Bengali quarterly magazine titled "Bangladesher Hridoy Hote" that focuses on literature and culture.
In 1964, on the occasion of Bengali new year 1371, Chhayanaut began celebrating Bengali New Year under the banyan tree at Ramna Park. Over time, this celebration grew into a major national cultural event. Chhayanaut also organizes programs to commemorate the birth and death anniversaries of Rabindranath Tagore (25th Boishakh and 22nd Srabon), as well as seasonal festivals like Autumn and Spring Festival.
In the 1960s, the military regime of Pakistan banned the performance and broadcast of Rabindra Sangeet in then-East Pakistan. In defiance of the ban, legendary Rabindra Sangeet singer Kalim Sharafi, along with others, helped establish Chhayanaut, an organization dedicated to music, drama, and dance. Despite the prohibition, branches of Chhayanaut spread discreetly across district towns like an underground network. After the centenary celebration of Rabindranath Tagore in 1961, a group of cultural activists, among them Mokhlesur Rahman (popularly known as Sidhu Bhai), Shamsunnahar Rahman, Sufia Kamal, and Wahidul Haq, took the initiative to form a progressive cultural organization. The name "Chhayanaut" (signifies the shade of a tree) was proposed by Saeedul Hasan.
In 1961, the first executive committee of Chhayanaut was formed with Sufia Kamal as President and Farida Hasan as General Secretary. Zahur Hossain Chowdhury and Saeedul Hasan served as Vice Presidents, while Saifuddin Ahmed Manik and Mizanur Rahman Chhana were Joint Secretaries. Mokhlesur Rahman was the Treasurer. Other members included Kamal Lohani, Waheedul Haq, Sanjida Khatun, and Ahmedur Rahman, among others.
Chhayanaut held its first program at the Engineers Institute auditorium, which featured a collection of old Bengali songs. In 1963, under the initiative of Sanjida Khatun, music classes were started on the verandah of the Bangla Academy. Sanjida Khatun and Farida Malik taught Rabindra Sangeet, Bazlul Karim taught tabla, Mati Mia taught violin and sitar, and Sohrab Hossain taught Nazrul Geeti. That same year, the Chhayanaut Music School was officially established and inaugurated by Ustad Ayet Ali Khan on the first day of the Bengali year 1370 (1963 CE).
Chhayanaut’s early activities began at the English Preparatory School (Later renamed as Udayan Higher Secondary School). Due to government pressure, the organization had to relocate its operations to Agrani School and College, and later to Lake Circus Girls’ School out of fear of further obstruction. Chhayanaut remained there until 1971.
When the Liberation War began in 1971, many key figures of Chhayanaut, including Wahidul Haque and Sanjida Khatun, were forced to take refuge abroad. In Kolkata, they, along with other like-minded artists, formed the Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha (Freedom Fighters' Artists' Association). Many prominent artists outside of Chhayanaut also joined this collective. The group performed regularly in refugee camps and freedom fighters' bases, using music and art to inspire and uplift the spirit of resistance. As part of this effort, the group staged a musical play titled Rupantorer Gaan, written by Shahriar Kabir. The script underwent several changes over time. They performed at Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata, where legendary artists such as Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata Biswas, Kanika Bandopadhyay, and Suchitra Mitra joined and sang in solidarity. The group raised funds through these performances, and each of them would contribute the money they earned individually to a collective fund dedicated to supporting the liberation movement. This historic cultural movement later became the subject of filmmaker Tareque Masud’s documentary Muktir Gaan.