WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN TRIBAL SOCIETY

WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN TRIBAL SOCIETY

Published in overland patrika, Kolkata

Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar

It can be easily admitted that strict rules are imposed on tribal women than the other women and the administrative systems are also quite strict.  Their life is influenced by the hills and mountains.  Their daily struggle has made them quite resilient.  The men do their work in agricultural fields and do not participate in the household activities.  The household activities are primarily done by the females.  The females collect the wood from the forest walking across miles in the jungle.  They carry water walking 5 to 6 miles.  The hard work of the tribal women cannot be compared with the women in the cities.  They work in rice husking and preparation and also in the construction of the houses.  The women in the cities work hard but in a different way.  But the women are not given respect properly and totally.

The restrictions have been imposed on women to maintain their character and virginity.  The men have exploited them forcefully.  The punishment is not given to the unscrupulous individual.  But the women are only facing the hardships.

This incident is occurring regularly in the tribal society.  The restrictions are imposed on unmarried women.  The illicit sexual relations are not tolerated.  The vermilion on the head of the tribal women make their marriage legal.  In this context, we need to talk about “Ityut Biye”  ‘Ityut’ means forceful marriage.  ‘Ityut’ can be of two types.  It can be a secret desire and against the will of the girl.  But the punishment is severe.  Many of us remember the murder of Tamali Soren and Shaktidhar Tudu of Bardhaman.  They were brutally killed.  Their fault is that Shakti is a Bengali boy and Tamali is a Santali girl.  They gave importance to their disrespect and sometimes their reaction was horrible.  From Dalton’s ‘Descriptive Anthology of Bengal’, we have seen that the Santals migrated from one place to another and started to live in Chaitanga forest.  At that time, Birhor tribes lived there.  The Santals regarded the Birhors as a low caste tribe.  It is male dominated.  Though most of the work is done by the women.  The women will rule the family but will remain under the men’s control.  The women have no control in the leadership of the society.  Most of the time in the religious rituals, they have no right.  The women have no right to touch the God’s offerings.  But in the tribal areas, the women play a little role in the religious rituals.  The women in the tribal society lack this facility.  In the month of ‘Bhadra’ in the Sukla Ekadoshi, the tribal women practice a ritual called “Jawakaram Purab” where they produce food grains.  The Jawakaram is the food grain festival.  The tribal women worship Karam, the God of Food Grains.  The whole family depends on the food grains and the woman who helps in the production plays a big role.  There is no difference in the tribal society.

The tribal women neglect education.  But they must be educated if the society wants to progress.  Every family wants their girl to keep in the hostel for education.  They are located in the Belpahari region of West Bengal. 

Exploited Children in Legal and Social Sector

Exploited Children in Legal and Social Sector

Published in Alochana Magazine from Deoghar,

October 1985.

Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar

Before the city life gets busy early in the morning, the street children wakes up first.  These children sleep live in the railway station areas, at the tea stalls and  those who work as domestic help.  They start the day at work without any food in their stomach.  They do a lot of work around the day.  On the other hand, the kids of the rich class wake up with sweets in their mouth.  When the rich class kids wake up, they are given a class of Horlicks, milk or fruit juice as soon as they rise up.  This picture is always there in a society.  But in modern times, the problem that comes under discussion is the problem with children.  Everybody knows that child labor is a social problem.  It is often heard that the child is one of the member of the society and we have the responsibility of helping them grow up as a responsible citizen of the country.  As time goes by, this concept is changing and we find new debates and discussions on child problems. 

In our country, on the way to the development of the child, there are many hurdles and difficulties which surround it like an octopus.  This is dangerous in reality.  The poor families are the victim of it.  India is an unlucky country where the children dying of malnutrition are increasing day by day.  In the same way, the children and young girls and boys are used in bad trade.  The children are put into jail for petty reasons or for no reasons at all.

The children’s life is in danger for diseases or pollution.  Many children are losing their lives due to infection and becoming handicapped.  Neither they are getting the required food and environmental comfort like games, education, dress system.  They are growing up in really poor health rules.  The child death is rising in our country.

The UNICEF gives us a clear horrible picture of the present and   future and they have presented another horrible picture that most of the children do not have malnutrition.  Even UNICEF thinks the mother of those malnutrition children do not know how much malnutrition is there in the children which is eroding their power to live. 

The malnutrition of the children goes on more than the age of their adulthood.  The World Bank has seen from a survey in Indonesia that those farmers who suffer from deficiency in blood or anemia, their productivity is one-fifth or 20%.  It has been found that the children do not get the energy to play also.  It has been observed that the child who suffers from malnutrition cannot work for the society in the future. 

In the developing countries, 15 lakh children dies due to “ham” disease, 10 lakh children dies due to dhanushtankar, 6 lakh die due to whooping cough.  50 lakh children in total dies from these diseases every year.  But there are vaccines.  If 6 vaccine injections are given to the children, then the expense per child is $5.  Every year the big countries of the world manufacture and does research work on the weapons.  Then how much is the expense for killing an individual?

According to World Health Organization (WHO), the impurity in water and unhealthy environment is responsible for 80% of the diseases.  50 lakh children die due to the two reasons.  If there was pure water and environment, then we could help them live.  As a result of this, upto the year 1989-1990, the time period could be effectively considered for International Decade of Water Supply and Health.

DISCUSSION ON TRIBAL EXPLOITATION

DISCUSSION ON TRIBAL EXPLOITATION

KALANTAR, 34 year, 299 volume, 14^th August , 2001, 29^th Sraban 1408, Tuesday, Rs. 2.00

A debate was arranged in the Paschim Bango Bangla Academy on August 13 and 14.  The   program was organized by Khatra Adibasi and Development Center.  All of them criticized the unscrupulous British rulers and the mahajans as well as the role of the Government.  Hikim alleged the tribes were negligent of their problems.  Nikhil Ranjan Majhi described warned those who exploit and torture people and said that the tribal people have to understand their own problems. 

Among the other speakers, there are Gurucharan Murmu, Dr. Arunendu Sarkar, Amalendu Roy, Sushil Mahali, Pradip Har , Pratibha Mondol, Subodh Soren, Mangal Soren, Baleswar Soren , Maheswar Soren, Prabhat Ghosh etc.  The secretary of the Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar invited everybody to cooperate and announced that a newspaper called “Adibasi Sangbad” will be published.  At the open grounds of Academy of Fine Arts, the tribals performed in a cultural program.  Along with them, Dolon Mitra and Kabita Barui also participated.

DEBATE:  WHY TRIBALS ARE NEGLECTED IN 54 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE?

SATYAJUG …10^th August, 2001…..Friday.

A debate will be organized in the coming Tuesday and Wednesday in the hall of the Bangla Academy.  “Sadhinatar 54 Bochorey Adibasira Abahelito Keno?”  (Why The Tribals are Neglected?) is the topic our debate.  The organizer is Khatra Adibasi Culture and Development Center.  Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar informed that the population of the country is more than 102 crores.  The majority of them is the tribal population.  They have characteristics like cultural flow, feng shui, economics, religion, language , the socio-political method, etc.  They are independent of higher caste Indians.  But most of them are economically backward, very poor , half filled stomach, half naked, illiterate.

                A notable timeline must be created and we need to give them their proper right.  Many initiatives and planning have been made to bring them under the main stream.  All the government planning was spoiled, their minimum requirement is health, education, language, culture and cultural structure and they are deprived from all of them.

                The moneylenders have exploited them during the British rule in India.  Why the neglect is there?  The Minister of Jail and Society Welfare Minister, Biswanath Chowdhury, the head of Nandan, Angsha Sur, the secretary of Bangla Academy Sanat Chattopadhyay , the director in drama Usha Ganguly, journalist Niranjan Haldar, district officer Tapan Sen , Amalendu Ray, etc. are the well known personalities.  From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, a  tribal and folk program will also be organized in front of the Academy of Fine Arts.

OBJECTIVE OF HANDICRAFT PRODUCTION

Despite the direct and indirect benefit of the people accrued from implementation of the Kangsabati Reservoir Project there remains a vast stretch of drought prone area where mostly the SC/ST and other backward class population live with limited means of livelihood and lack of human facilities.  They are anyhow surviving with poor communication, scanty and erratic rainfall, low fertility of soil, absence of capital and entrepreneurial capacity, low technology transfer, low social and per capita income, unemployment and poverty.  For this reason, one of the main problems facing the handicrafts industry is the need for research and technical development, assistance to the craftsman and manufacturers with new ideas in design to suit the taste of the modern consumer in India and abroad.  The shift in demand in domestic and export markets had isolated the small trader and producer from the recruitment of these new markets.  So we need financial assistance and to develop design and technical guidance to rural and scheduled tribes and backward class people to solve their poverty.  

PROPOSAL AND SCHEME OUTLINE OF DESIGN AND TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AT KHATRA (DISTRICT BANKURA)

INTRODUCTION: 

Conception of Khatra:

Government of West Bengal has accepted on principle, the creation of an outlying and full fledged subdivision entitled as Khatra subdivision in the district of Bankura.  A cabinet decision followed by formal notification segregating 8 PSs namely Taldangra, Simlipal, Raipur, Sarenga, Ranibandh, Khatra, Hirbandh and Indpur and 8 blocks namely Taldangra, Simlipal, Raipur-I, Raipur-II, Ranibandh, Khatra-I, Hirbandh and Indpur.

KHATRA AT A GLANCE:

1.   Total Population (as per Population Census 1991)                       = 8,08,332.

a)  Scheduled Castes                                                                                      =204,051 (22.24%)

b)  Scheduled Tribes                                                                                       =1,81,245 (22.42%)

2.  Geographical area                                                                                      =2406.90 sq.km.

3.  Forest Land                                                                                                   =464.42 sq. km.(19.30%)

4.  Agricultural land                                                                                          =1172.05 sq.km. (48.70%)

5.  Average annually                                                                                       =1500 mm.

6.  Police Station                                                                                               =7.

7.  Block Development and Panchayat Samiti                                       =8.

8.  Gram Panchayet                                                                                         =59.

9.  M.P.                                                                                                 =1 (Small Reserve for Scheduled).

10.  Assembly Member                                                                                 =4.

a)  Scheduled Tribe reservation                                                 =2

b)  Scheduled Caste Reservation                                                               =1.

c)  Ordinary                                                                                         =1.

11)  Zilla Parishad Members                                                         =16.

At present, KACDC have organized the following courses.  They are as follows:

1.       Six Months’ Course on Training on Handloom Weaving -

Sponsored by West Bengal Women Development undertaking Government of West Bengal.  50 SC, ST, OBC and Muslim Women under this sponsored course and other 50 women also engaged in this training.

2.        Training on Handicraft.

a)       Training on Jute Diversification.

b)      Woolen Products by Curush.

c)       Date Palm Leaf products.

d)      Kantha Stitch.

e)      Hand Embroidery.

f)       Bamboo.

g)      Terracotta, etc.

3.        Income generating production.

a)       (Candle) Agarbati.

b)      Detergent powder.

c)       Mushroom.

POET SARADAPRASAD KISKU MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTRE

POET SARADAPRASAD KISKU MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTRE

In the Santal Palli of Mosleha Village of Bankura District

LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR

A popular writer in Santali language , a pioneer in anti-witch movement of Purulia and freedom fighter, President Award winner “Ideal Teacher”,  who got many prizes, translated Rabindrath’s Gitanjali in Santali language, wrote many books, international human rights protest Amnesty International, People’s Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL), and chairman of Santali Writers Association of Purulia, advisor of many organizations, enterpriser and entrepreuner , social reformer,  active member of Indian Language Commission, poet Sarada Prasad Kisku’s name is not unknown to people of Bihar, Bengal ,Orissa.  This reputed person died on March 28, 1996 at 11 p.m.  while suffering from a heart attack at his Darikadoba village in Purulia.

                The sad story is that this talented person with his flair for writing and he took his risk of life for reforming the society through his writing, and he has shown his objectives to the intellectuals in our society.  The evaluation of his work still has not been done properly.  Had it been done properly, he would have got the Nobel Prize, Magsaysay prize, Indian government’s best prize Bharat Ratna award.  Due to the lack of translation, he failed to get the Magsaysay Award.  In spite of less work, many high class authors are getting Magsaysay Awards.

                In reality, Saradababu was born in Santal society.  In that society ,people had the conception that the Santal society or the tribal society has no culture and literature.  They are wild people, live in jungles  having neither culture or literature.

                In spite of this, one class of people is doing research on language , culture, literature, writing books, doing  business with their culture.  They are so selfish that they are concerned only about themselves.  If these people had done something for the upliftment of the culture and literature through cooperation.  We do not need to say anything if somebody had taken the initiative.

                The two poets who gained reputation at the time of Saradaprasad Kisku are the great poet Sadhu Ramchand Murmu and Scholar Raghunath Murmu.  He was a disciple of Sadhu Ramchand Murmu.  We were connected with the poet for 16 to 17 years.  I was a member in his protest of anti-witch movement.  Presently I am trying to start this protest with various types of work for 10 to 12 years through a survey of the tribal society, literature and culture. 

                If you want to bring the tribals from darkness to light, the primary need is proper education (not only education based on books) and to make the health facilities available in every village.  Human development will stop due to lack of spread of education and they will not be free from superstition if the health facilities are not provided to them.

                From this firm belief, a library will be set up and the tribals will become educated.  They will be identified as a ‘human being’ not as a ‘tribal.’

                THE OBJECTIVES OF POET SARADA PRASAD KISKU LIBRARY AND RESEARCH CENTRE

1.        The publicity of Santali language-literature.

2.       The evaluation of expired and living poets, writer-artists.

3.       The village boys and girls who wander around aimlessly can gather and talk together, creation of character, to make the person aware of the society and his responsibility towards it, to make the person acquaint with it leaving the village and the society, one must be responsible for the society and the country.

4.       To show the ways of self-employment.

5.       To pay respect to the respected people.

6.       To provide training in journalist so that they can do their work on their own.

Other than this, you will get:

The relevant information on the folk culture and tribal culture.  Tribal writer,  poet,  about the writers, journals, books (English, Bengali, Hindi and Santali), the news on tribal news, pictures, other  than songs, neighbouring Bengali and Hindi songs, story books, little magazine, the news on developmental work, the directions on how to do developmental work, news on the modern methods of agriculture and necessary information, information on the whereabouts of self-employment,  paper clippings on the news of the country, protest on human rights, women protests , information on child labour.

And along with it, all kinds of assistance for the education institutions concerned with tribal and folk culture, field work with individuals and students.  The local people are the girls and boys of the region who is going to stay always on our side.

How it was formed:

The Mosleha village is in the number 2 Hirbandh block of Khatra of Bankura district.  The Mosleha village is the door to the tribal belt of the South-West corner.  He left the job of Aajkaal newspaper on April 1, 1993.  He became intimate with the tribals as he started working with the girls and boys of the region.

Fifteen years ago, an organization called South Hirbandh Adibasi Club was set up.  This club at Hirbandh block had full of cultural and sports activities.  The officials of the club wanted to set up a library.  For this reason , Sushila Tudu donated 3 bighas of land for building the club.  He wanted to give more lands adjoining it.  A wall was constructed for the library.   Due to lack of initiative and money, this project was accidentally stopped.  The room that was filled with bushes and shrubs for 15 years were cleared for this library.  To give enthusiasm, me and my father Manindra Kumar Sarkar’s collection of 2500 books , journals, Santali poet, writer’s picture, book shelves donated a cash of Rs. 15,000, my brother, a national level football player Bratin Sarkar have promised to donate money.  At the initial period , sister Kabita have taken a loan of Rs. 3000 from his office.  In total, I have started this project with Rs. 70000-75000.  Along with it, two typewriters are given.  The primary objective is to make them self-employed and teach them without taking any tuition fees.  The typewriters were purchased by Kabita’s brother, Bratin.  The villagers are working as labourers  helping  us construct the room.  They are also collecting money.   Those who cannot give 1 rupee for fund raising, they are generous enough to give some rice grains.  But the requirement is Rs. 60000 to Rs. 70000.  Books and journals.

APPEAL TO THE COUNTRYMEN:

I appeal to the countrymen for financial support to the wellwishers of the country, writer, poet, organization, and political parties .  I hope that we can build up this structure provided you give enough financial support.

 

               

BOOK REVIEW

BOOK REVIEW

Lokoshilpey o Ganajagaroney Grambangla (Village of Bengal in the light of folk art and public awareness)

Shanti Sinha, Sakalbela Rabibar, 22 january, 2012, 7 magh, 1418, Page 4.

Getting the book on “Anti-Witch Movement of Purulia,” living in Purulia for 41 years, a special chapter came up in my mind.  The dense forests that encircle the mountains from Bandowan to  Maanbazaar, Hurakashipur, Baghmundi, Jhalda, Raghunathpur, Hetjari, Ragoonkodor, Barabazar, etc. and other remote areas, the densely populated area have superstitions of the Middle Age lifestyle.  It is a preplanned story of calling a woman as a witch and pointing some men as wizard in the public life.  We are against the dangerous social evil and a protest has been started once by Saradaprasad Kisku in Darikadoba village who was a teacher and poet.  Mahadev Hansda became their co-warrior, teacher-poet Gomosta Prasad Soren, Poet  Kalendra Mandi, Maheswar Besra, poet-dramatist Rupchand Hansda, teacher Manmoth Baskey, poet Baleswar Soren, etc. are the creative minded citizens.  Mahasweta Devi, a writer and a social worker from Kolkata, journalist Niranjan Haldar, in the style of a journalist Bikraman Nayar , journalist Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar went to the spot many times.  Then the exploited tribals required support and he gave resignation and worked in the tribal regions of Purulia, Bankura and devoted his life in this work.  These incidences occurred 20 years ago.

Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar was connected with the tribal development since then.  A service center has been set up in the red soils.  I have seen his social work through my own eyes.  He has written a documentary book  on anti-witch movement.   On the basis of a population census and by interviewing those who were exploited as witches, this is a true account.  In the trial of the murder of Lakshman Tudu, the verdict of Sudhir Milan Tudu in the court of Purulia, the leader of the anti-witch movement, the social unrest leading to the news  of Jagaran Soren, the biography of sarada Prasad Kisku and his letters have been  compiled in the book.  At the beginning of the book, the emergence of the Santals and their migration, hunting festival, folk belief on witch cult, the women’s right in Santal society and the history of the anti-witch movement has been explained in simple words along with photographs has been discussed.  Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar   has been connected with tribal population for a long time and on the basis of population census, he wrote this book.  His dedication, honesty and personal touch is really praiseworthy.  In this type of primary source book, many editions are really painful.  I feel the future editions of the book will be better.  

PURULIAR DAINI BIRODHI ANDOLAN (THE ANTI-WITCH MOVEMENT OF PURULIA), LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR, SANCHAYAN PRAKASHANI, Rs. 200.

ADIBASI SANGBAD-FIRST TRIBAL NEWSPAPER IN INDIA

ADIBASI SANGBAD

Reported by Pranab Hazra, Bankura.

Aajkaal

Edition 13, volume 166, Thursday 18 Bhadra, 1915, Shakabda, 23 Bhadra 1400 Bangabdo, 9^th September 1993

It’s a great news that the news of the first tribal newspaper in India called “Adibasi Sangbad” was published from Khatra in South Bankura got an importance in your newspaper.  Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar motivated the tribal families.  Three types of reactions can be observed from this initiative.  They are suspicion, enthusiasm and fear.  There is suspicion that before the researchers usurped money of the government in the name of tribal research and book publication.  They got their reputation.  But there was no communication between the educated people, researchers and the tribals.  There was no development of the tribals.  The innocent tribals have understood that this is a betrayal from the educated society.  For a few years, some work was going on with the tribal society, though there was suspicion, there is interest and enthusiasm in the publication of “Adibasi Sangbad.”  I have not seen such an enthusiasm just from the second day after the birth of a newspaper.  On the other hand, this enthusiasm has created a fear.  There is an adequate natural resources in the forests of these tribals.  The valuable natural resources get depleted due to the traders of the city.  One section of the tribals are immersed in superstitious beliefs.  They are satisfying their own needs.  They are afraid that the “Adibasi Sangbad” will enter the society and create awareness.  As a result, the vicious circle will be exposed.  These people are always busy planning to stab the infant.

LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR--HIS LIFE AND ACTIVITIES BEFORE NGO

LAKSHIMDRA KUMAR SARKAR

Lakshimdra Kumar Sarkar was born on April 1, 1956.  He was born at Lohia Hospital in Kolkata. 

His mother is late Srimati Lakshmi Sarkar.  She was a housewife.  She was a social worker.  She loved to help poor people with food, clothes and money.  L.K. Sarkar was named by a reputed economist named Arun Ghosh. 

His father is  Manindra Kumar Sarkar and is now 82 years old.  He is working in the printing department in Aajkaal newspaper.  His father was a football player, singer and a fashionable person.  He had great aesthetic sense.  He had a good writing style.  He used to write the prefaces of books written by Bibhuti Chakraborty (DCDD) during the time of Siddhartha Shankar Roy. 

He received his primary education at Chittaranjan High School in Kasba.  He studied there upto class 12 and passed out higher secondary examination in 1974.  Then he studied Commerce at Charu Chandra College in 1976.  He did a diploma in journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Calcutta.  He was trained in photography from Subrata Patranabish, Chief Photographer of Statesman.  He went to Delhi in 1977 and stayed at Daryaganj.  He worked as a Stenographer in Eastern Law House for one year upto 1978.  Then he shifted to journalism in 1978. 

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar worked as a freelance journalist in Sundarban.  During his travel to Sundarban, he got in touch with a large number of tribes living there and he was guided by Niranjan Haldar who was the assistant editor of the reputed newspaper called Ananda Bazaar.  He studied the tribes like Sardar, Oraon, Munda, Mahali, Santal, etc from close quarters.  During his stay in Sundarban, he wrote a novel “Jeevan Nadir Tirey.”  He studied the tribals of Bankura and Purulia from 1980. 

On March 25, 1981, he joined Aajkaal, a popular Bengali newspaper.  He wrote in a number of little magazines.  He organized rallies on different occasions during his service as a journalist from 1981 to 1990.  In 1993, he resigned from Aajkaal on October 1.  He fully devoted the rest of his life to the social welfare and upliftment of the tribals.  He started an organization for promoting the Bengali literature in Kolkata, which was named “The Progressive Federation of Bengali Literature and Culture.”  This organization was run for 10 years.  At present, he has an office of his NGO in Belghoria. 

DISTINGUISHING PERSONALITIES WHO CAME TO ATTEND OUR PROGRAM AT KHATRA

In the year of 1997, on the occasion of Hool Day at Khatra Pipe Ground on 30^th June, 1997, a Santal activist and writer of Purulia, Gomosta Prasad Saren felicited Dr. Srabani Chakraborty is given Manpatra to Gomosta Prasad Saren.

In the year 2002,

Khatra ACDC felicited three distinguishing personalities of Bankura district at Khatra Bapi Lodge auditorium on 2^nd October 2002.

Sisir Sannal, Jamunalal Bajaj Award Winner, Sri Sailen Das, Social Worker and folklorist and secretary of Bankura Lok Sankrity Academy.  Dr. Nomita Mandal, National Award Winner of NATIONAL TEACHER.

Eminent personalities present on that occasion were as follows:

1.     Mrs. Anjali Hembram, President of Khatra ACDC.

2.    Satyanarayan Karmakar district officer SC/ST welfare department, Bankura.

3.    Anil Kanchan Mitra, a respectable person of Khatra.

4.    Freedom fighter Lachman Singh.

5.     Manik Mitra, a social worker.

6.      Manju Chakraborty.

7.        Sabyasachi Mondol, moderator of that programme.

8.       Dhiren Dutta, Ex-Pradhan Khatra –I.

9.       Satadal Dutta (who inaugurated the programme is S.D.O.)

10.     S.N. Roy (CBWE Education Officer).

11.   Gambhir Singh, journalist of Anandabazar Patrika.

12.     Makar Tudu, Ex-Pradhan Khatra 2.

13.   Aparna Neogi (Councillor, Kolkata Municipality Corporation attended on June 30, 2002 at Khatra.  She read a script on Santal Movement at Gurusaday Mancha at Khatra).

14.     Samim Hosain, writer of Hool Natak (Hool drama).

15.   Sahadad Hossain, NIPU Director of Lok Natya Dall.

16.     Prof. Niranjan Adhikary.

17.     Director of Bangla Doordarshan.

18.     L.K. Sarkar.                                    

These personalities were present on  30^th June, 2002 at Khatra on HOOL DAY.

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU SAID:”We aim at a strong, free and democratic India where every citizen has an equal place and full opportunity of growth and service, where present day inequalities in wealth and status have ceased to be, where our vital impulses are directed to creative and cooperative endeavor.  In such an India, communalism , separatism, isolation, untouchability, bigotry, and exploitation of man by man have no place, and while religion is free, it is not allowed to interfere with the political and economic aspects of a nation’s life.  If that is so, then all this business of Hindu and Muslim and Christian and Sikh must cease in so far as our political life is concerned and we must build a united but composite nation where both individual and national free down are secure.”

EMINENT PERSONALITIES PRESENT IN THE “RURAL-URBAN WRITER, POET, ARTIST, SINGER, GATHERING FAIR”:

EMINENT PERSONALITIES PRESENT IN THE “RURAL-URBAN WRITER, POET, ARTIST, SINGER, GATHERING FAIR”:

DATE:  NOVEMBER 20, 1997

LOCATION:  Paschimbanga Bangla Academy Mancha.

Personalities present are as follows:

1.  Lok Kobi Tulsicharan Mondol.

2.  Sadhucharan Das (Folk Singer).

3.  Kabi Siddheswar Sen.

4.  Kabi Shakti Sengupta.

5.  Kabi Chandicharan Das.

6.  Biswajit Singh Mahapatra.

RECOGNITION TO

SHAKTI SENGUPTA

Shakti Sengupta was felicitated on:

Date:  November 20,  1997.

Shakti Sengupta is a poet, essay writer, researcher, kind hearted person, musician and artist.

Organizations who participated in the felicitation ceremony:

Sahitya Sanskriti Bashar.

Rarh Bangla Sambad.

R.B. Sarkar Prakashani

Khatra, Bankura.

This leaflet distributed to the Bangla Academy audience and Khatra’s peoples.

TWO BOOKS OF LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR

LAKSHMINDRA KUMAR SARKAR’S

AKHYATO GAYER PROKHYATO SHILPI (RENOWNED ARTIST OF AN UNKNOWN VILLAGE)

Padmasree

Gambhir Singh Mura

and

Chotanagpur’s

Sindhubala Devi

(Chyapi)

Picture:  Pranab Sikdar

Price:  Rs. 25/-

Padmashree Awarded Gambhir Singh Mura of Chou Dance and State Music, Drama Academy awarded Sindhubala Devi who is called Chotanagpur ‘bulbul’ (Chyapi).  Those who deal with folk culture, they know these personalities.  Mr. Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar has researched on these two personalities very well.  He has collected many incidents of their lives.  He came to know the grief and anger of them.  There are also comments of some culture-minded people who know them well.  They are Subodh Basu Roy, Birinchi Kumar Dey, Dr. Shishir Mazumdar, Sraboni Chakraborty (researcher), G.M. Abubkar, Sanjib Sarkar etc.  Many pictures.  You will come to know the close relationship of the author with them.  This book is important to the researchers, it is equally important to the students and ordinary people.

To get the book, you need not pay in advance.  Please enlist yourself by sending your name and address.

There is a special rebate for the students of research institutions.

Childrens’ Books

Lakshmindra Kumar Sarkar’s

Still alive 116-year-old

SWADESHI DAKATH MOHAN (FREEDOM FIGHTER DACOIT MOHAN)

Price:  Rs. 20/-

Picture:  Debabrata Ghosh.

There are different types of pictures of Mohan Kheria in every pages.  The children would love to read it, and their parents would also think about Mohan.  After spending so many years of his life in this country, he is having difficult times in his old age.  He has been marked by the British as a ‘dacoit’ as he gave the side of the poor people.  The writer narrates the story of the dacoit in good and bad times.  Along with the author, Mohan Kisku also throws light on some remarkable incidents.

Contact:

R.B. Prakashani, 19/7A Pottery Road, Kolkata -15; P.O. Tangra.

Registered Office:  36/17, C.N. Ray Road, Kolkata – 700 039.

Branch Office:  Khatra, Vivekananda Road, Bankura – 722 140; opposite to Kansai Press.