Baishabi: New year in the hills
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Nehal Adil
Baishabi is being celebrated as a new-year festival in our hills. It is our Pahela Baisakh, the first of Baisakh. In the hills it is called by different names, Baishabi, Baishakhi, Shangrai or Biju, especially by the Chakmas, Tripuras and Marmas together.
Despite certain provocations, peace is prevailing in the CHT inhabited by ethnic minorities. During the previous Awami League government, the historic peace agreement was signed between the government and the insurgents giving the ethnic minorities certain autonomy. The regional council was created for the three hill districts with its headquarters at Rangamati.
The CHT has a land area of 5,600 square miles, nearly one-tenth of Bangladesh. But it has a population of nearly a million. Half of the population belong to the ethnic minorities. Among them, Chakmas, Marmas, and Tripuras are quite advanced. They have their own written languages, national dress and religions. On the other hand, tiny minorities like Khyangs, Khumis and Murongs even very recently lived in the hunter gatherer stage of the civilisation. Our policy of equal opportunities for all citizens has ushered in a new era for them. Our army engineers have built excellent roads connecting the remotest parts of the hills. Yet we are determined not to destroy the ancient mode of life of our hill citizens.
Thousands of students from the hills are now studying in our metropolis important subjects like medicine, engineering, ethnology, art and culture. There are initiatives to build a university for the ethnic minorities in Khagrachhari or Rangmati. Dr Niru Kumar Chakma, foremost scholar among the hill people and former classmate at Dhaka College and also at Dhaka University told me that the ratio of education is even higher in the hills than in the plains. He thought there should not be any distinction and overplay. Every one has to make his place by ability. I would say Niru did it. He is one of our best.
Now efforts are being made to teach the indigenous children in their mother languages. A seminar was held recently at Shishu Academy attended by former adviser Rasheda K Choudhury. She happened to be the life-long fighter for rights of the indigenous. Now, certain NGOs have taken the initiatives. But it is felt the government should come to the fore and formulate a policy and other necessary mechanism.
Tribal cultural academies in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban are playing a positive role in developing, extending and sustaining indigenous culture.
Parbatya Lok Sanskriti Festival was recently held at Khagrachhari. It was inaugurated by Information and Culture Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, a long time fighter for the democratic rights of the people.
The question of CHT should be held above party politics. We would not accept any foreign interference in our internal affair. Our army belongs to the whole people. They were baptised on the fire and blood of the Liberation War, which was aimed at sharing the fruit of prosperity with all, not a few nor any particular ethnic or religious group.
This can be upheld only under a secular democratic polity.
Drought and rat invasion have caused havoc in CHT. Both the hill people and the Bangalee settlers as well as the hill Bangalees have been affected. The hill Bangalees who are Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have been living there for centuries. They too uphold a vibrant Bangalee culture and have a new year.
The new-year sun will rise over the Kaptai lake, which has unfortunately devoured the Rangamati town. A new town has emerged nearby, but the memories of losing the old one still cannot be forgotten.
That is why they possibly sing Rangamatir Paharey, Chad Uthechhey Aharey.
"Could we not do anything to drain the lake and get the old town back?"-an indigenous student asked me. Modern technology has gone too far.
Let the new sun rise over the hills and herald a new era of peace and amity for our nation as a whole..
Baishabi is being celebrated as a new-year festival in our hills. It is our Pahela Baisakh, the first of Baisakh. In the hills it is called by different names, Baishabi, Baishakhi, Shangrai or Biju, especially by the Chakmas, Tripuras and Marmas together.
Despite certain provocations, peace is prevailing in the CHT inhabited by ethnic minorities. During the previous Awami League government, the historic peace agreement was signed between the government and the insurgents giving the ethnic minorities certain autonomy. The regional council was created for the three hill districts with its headquarters at Rangamati.
The CHT has a land area of 5,600 square miles, nearly one-tenth of Bangladesh. But it has a population of nearly a million. Half of the population belong to the ethnic minorities. Among them, Chakmas, Marmas, and Tripuras are quite advanced. They have their own written languages, national dress and religions. On the other hand, tiny minorities like Khyangs, Khumis and Murongs even very recently lived in the hunter gatherer stage of the civilisation. Our policy of equal opportunities for all citizens has ushered in a new era for them. Our army engineers have built excellent roads connecting the remotest parts of the hills. Yet we are determined not to destroy the ancient mode of life of our hill citizens.
Thousands of students from the hills are now studying in our metropolis important subjects like medicine, engineering, ethnology, art and culture. There are initiatives to build a university for the ethnic minorities in Khagrachhari or Rangmati. Dr Niru Kumar Chakma, foremost scholar among the hill people and former classmate at Dhaka College and also at Dhaka University told me that the ratio of education is even higher in the hills than in the plains. He thought there should not be any distinction and overplay. Every one has to make his place by ability. I would say Niru did it. He is one of our best.
Now efforts are being made to teach the indigenous children in their mother languages. A seminar was held recently at Shishu Academy attended by former adviser Rasheda K Choudhury. She happened to be the life-long fighter for rights of the indigenous. Now, certain NGOs have taken the initiatives. But it is felt the government should come to the fore and formulate a policy and other necessary mechanism.
Tribal cultural academies in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban are playing a positive role in developing, extending and sustaining indigenous culture.
Parbatya Lok Sanskriti Festival was recently held at Khagrachhari. It was inaugurated by Information and Culture Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, a long time fighter for the democratic rights of the people.
The question of CHT should be held above party politics. We would not accept any foreign interference in our internal affair. Our army belongs to the whole people. They were baptised on the fire and blood of the Liberation War, which was aimed at sharing the fruit of prosperity with all, not a few nor any particular ethnic or religious group.
This can be upheld only under a secular democratic polity.
Drought and rat invasion have caused havoc in CHT. Both the hill people and the Bangalee settlers as well as the hill Bangalees have been affected. The hill Bangalees who are Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have been living there for centuries. They too uphold a vibrant Bangalee culture and have a new year.
The new-year sun will rise over the Kaptai lake, which has unfortunately devoured the Rangamati town. A new town has emerged nearby, but the memories of losing the old one still cannot be forgotten.
That is why they possibly sing Rangamatir Paharey, Chad Uthechhey Aharey.
"Could we not do anything to drain the lake and get the old town back?"-an indigenous student asked me. Modern technology has gone too far.
Let the new sun rise over the hills and herald a new era of peace and amity for our nation as a whole..