The promise of Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh stands as the time tested traditional festival of the Bangalis making us all get united irrespective of our caste, creed, religion, opinions and ideals which actually we cannot maintain all the year round in other national forums and arenas. The sky rocketed price hike, food adulteration, insecurity in public and social life, frequent power failure and water crisis fail to diminish the spiritual pleasure of the Bangalis on this day. The 'hilsha' fish with stale rice has become a common and traditional cuisine of the day. It does not deter many to enjoy this traditional dish stretching from village to the capital city. Pahela Baishakh comes with a renewed pledge to make us united forgetting the past, and the smaller clouds that might have gathered around us. The whole country observes the day amidst festivity and fun fair. Baishaki fairs and various cultural programmes are arranged in every nook and corner of the country. I vividly remember how I went to Baishakhi fair in our local market with my friends and cousins. Situation that day was quite different from the normal market day. Toys of various kinds including those made from clay were special items for the day. These toys and traditional foods flooded the fair inviting the attention of the children and the teenagers. We used to go to the fair and buy things according to our choice. Still the fair is organized every year. This unmixed joy still haunts me and makes me suffer from nostalgia. The observance of 'Pahela Baishakh' in Dhaka city gives a different momentum. It gathers people from all walks of life at the Ramna Park, Bangla Academy, TSC and many more areas. They enjoy the musical programme welcoming the New Year. Renowned cultural organisation 'Chayanat' presents the main programme at Ramna Batamul early morning. People of all ages huddle together and share their joys forgetting the miseries and sorrows of life. Participating in different programs of the day serves as a tonic which keeps them vibrant, smiling and cheerful. A harmonious and peaceful atmosphere prevails throughout as people move around. But alas! The same sets of people get divided in other programs of politics and social gathering to show the rivalry against each other in its ugliest form. This not only surprises us, it pains us too. Viewing from this point, we can say that Pahela Baishakh stands as a symbol of 'national unity'. We should promise that this moral teaching of Pahela Baishakh must be reflected in our other national forums and programs. We have already walked quite a long way of forty-one years since our independence through a bloody struggle. Still the dream of our independence has not been materialised in the true sense of the term. Economic emancipation for the overwhelming majority has not been achieved .With the passage of time the gap between the haves and have-nots is getting widened. The number of ultra-poor is increasing. It is true that the city is witnessing many high rise buildings with modern architectural beauty. It is equally true that these modern buildings proclaim their sophistication mocking at the quickening race of slums which make room for the hapless creatures streaming from the rural areas. Rural people in huge number flock to the capital due to chill penury, insecurity, unemployment, village politics, river- erosion, and natural calamities. They now embrace the life of day labourers in the city to add to civic problems. Making the dens of criminals they live in the slums. Some even are involved in immoral activities like prostitution, child and woman trafficking, and illegal drug trading. The children who are born in the slums are left to the vacuum of uncertainty. Despite being Bangali they don't know the meaning and significance of Pahela Baishakh. They remain far away from enjoying and learning the significance of Pahela Baishakh. My heart aches and makes me frustrated to see the faces of the streams of rootless children who don't have an address. They do not get food properly, not to speak of nutrition, healthcare or education. Most of these children start with the habit of theft, and if caught, the jubilant crowd beat them mercilessly without giving any consideration to their right to live in this society. These children get involved in the gang of hardened criminals to commit drug peddling, become drug addicted without knowing its pernicious aspect and effect, while some girls become prostitutes selling their malnourished bodies. What does this 'New Year' promise for them? What contribution have we made for them at our individual level? What the state has really done for these 'homo sapiens'? What does this masked society tell them on this New Year day? There is nothing called New Year in the lives of the poor masses living a sub human life in the slums of the city. All the days and years probably remain equally bleak for them. What this New Year festival shows us? Still the nation has been politically divided into two and cannot even sink the differences where very basic national issues are related. The millions of commoners want economic emancipation, social security, real freedom in individual, social and state life. They want real freedom of speech, a better future for the austerity. But will the divided political culture and force make them happen? Will the destructive politics of the country show us a new path to go ahead on this New Year's Day? Let us hope for the best. Let us promise to reflect the real spirit of Pahela Baishakh in our individual and national life. The wrier is a Program Manager of BRAC and can be reached at Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com