Thoughts on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Enayet Rasul Bhuiyan
While the positive economic effects of globalisation can be acceptable, the same cannot apply to its cultural effects. Bangladeshis have a distinctive culture. They have a history as old as the oldest civilisations on earth. All the artefacts of a civilised existence, dating back thousands of years, have been discovered in Bangladesh. This country in antiquity was known as a land of wealth, luxurious living and finery of its crafts. Its riches, artistry and culture attracted foreigners in the ancient times who travelled to this land to lay their hands on the same and to learn.
The brutal colonial intervention and subjugation of Bangladesh again and again made its people poor and forced them to unlearn or turn away from some aspects of their native life and living. But even today, in the poorest of the Bangladeshi homes, food is actually cooked with a variety of spices and not eaten raw or semi-raw as in some corners of the world. Eating properly cooked food as distinct from uncooked or little cooked ones is judged as a litmus test of a civilised existence. The Bangladeshis can be proud that they crossed into this threshold of civilisation millenniums ago when some people in other parts of the world seem to be still at learning stages in this regard. Bengali cuisine is world famous today.
The Bengali language is one of the top seven recognised international languages in the world scene. Many languages of the world have died away. Other more appealing languages have swallowed them up or obliterated their use. The same has not been the fate of Bengali which is a major language of the world spoken by a very big part of all humanity. Bengali men of letters won Nobel prizes in literature and others distinguished themselves in the world stage for other forms of creative and artistic works involving their own land and culture. Bengali songs, music, musical instruments, drama, etc., enjoy international renown for their very high standards and appreciation. Art, language, music, heritage, cuisine, literature, etc., are the manifestations of a civilised and worthwhile human existence. Bangladeshis can boast of their attainments in every sphere of such an existence.
Therefore, culturally or socially at least, Bangladeshis have no reason to feel unsure of themselves. Indeed, they have a culture and way of life to be proud of, which is justification enough for their preservation and conservation. If the Americans can have their way of life, the British their way and the French theirs, then there is every reason for Bangladeshis to aspire to preserve and promote their own way of life and living.
The European renaissance touched the shores of the Indian subcontinent and spread beyond. A similar Bengali renaissance was noted in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Iswarchandra Biddayshagar, Jagadish Chandra Basu, Kazi Nazrul Islam and others led this renaissance in thoughts and actions. The awakening in this part of India, then under colonial bondage, inspired Goakhle to make his famous observation : " What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow."
Occasions such as Pahela Baishakh do rightly bring to mind whether the Bengali way of life and living is coming under an unfair attack from inappropriate forms of alien culture. The enthralling lyrical Bengali songs and music of yesteryears are giving way in some cases to rock bands. But the traditional Bengali songs and music are a real pleasure for the ears and the senses and this truth is admitted even by non-Bengalis. When there is so much appreciation for the culture of the people of Bangladesh abroad, it is sad that its appeal should be eroding among some sections of the present generations of Bangladeshis and their adopting anything foreign in the name of style or culture. The Bangladeshis need to remember that their social and cultural existence is not inferior to any other. Therefore, it is not only patriotic but also eminently sensible from the perspective of utility to preserve and promote the same.
While the positive economic effects of globalisation can be acceptable, the same cannot apply to its cultural effects. Bangladeshis have a distinctive culture. They have a history as old as the oldest civilisations on earth. All the artefacts of a civilised existence, dating back thousands of years, have been discovered in Bangladesh. This country in antiquity was known as a land of wealth, luxurious living and finery of its crafts. Its riches, artistry and culture attracted foreigners in the ancient times who travelled to this land to lay their hands on the same and to learn.
The brutal colonial intervention and subjugation of Bangladesh again and again made its people poor and forced them to unlearn or turn away from some aspects of their native life and living. But even today, in the poorest of the Bangladeshi homes, food is actually cooked with a variety of spices and not eaten raw or semi-raw as in some corners of the world. Eating properly cooked food as distinct from uncooked or little cooked ones is judged as a litmus test of a civilised existence. The Bangladeshis can be proud that they crossed into this threshold of civilisation millenniums ago when some people in other parts of the world seem to be still at learning stages in this regard. Bengali cuisine is world famous today.
The Bengali language is one of the top seven recognised international languages in the world scene. Many languages of the world have died away. Other more appealing languages have swallowed them up or obliterated their use. The same has not been the fate of Bengali which is a major language of the world spoken by a very big part of all humanity. Bengali men of letters won Nobel prizes in literature and others distinguished themselves in the world stage for other forms of creative and artistic works involving their own land and culture. Bengali songs, music, musical instruments, drama, etc., enjoy international renown for their very high standards and appreciation. Art, language, music, heritage, cuisine, literature, etc., are the manifestations of a civilised and worthwhile human existence. Bangladeshis can boast of their attainments in every sphere of such an existence.
Therefore, culturally or socially at least, Bangladeshis have no reason to feel unsure of themselves. Indeed, they have a culture and way of life to be proud of, which is justification enough for their preservation and conservation. If the Americans can have their way of life, the British their way and the French theirs, then there is every reason for Bangladeshis to aspire to preserve and promote their own way of life and living.
The European renaissance touched the shores of the Indian subcontinent and spread beyond. A similar Bengali renaissance was noted in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Personalities like Rabindranath Tagore, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Iswarchandra Biddayshagar, Jagadish Chandra Basu, Kazi Nazrul Islam and others led this renaissance in thoughts and actions. The awakening in this part of India, then under colonial bondage, inspired Goakhle to make his famous observation : " What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow."
Occasions such as Pahela Baishakh do rightly bring to mind whether the Bengali way of life and living is coming under an unfair attack from inappropriate forms of alien culture. The enthralling lyrical Bengali songs and music of yesteryears are giving way in some cases to rock bands. But the traditional Bengali songs and music are a real pleasure for the ears and the senses and this truth is admitted even by non-Bengalis. When there is so much appreciation for the culture of the people of Bangladesh abroad, it is sad that its appeal should be eroding among some sections of the present generations of Bangladeshis and their adopting anything foreign in the name of style or culture. The Bangladeshis need to remember that their social and cultural existence is not inferior to any other. Therefore, it is not only patriotic but also eminently sensible from the perspective of utility to preserve and promote the same.