St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) and St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata) Alumni Association hosted the 12th edition of their prestigious event Dashobhuja Bangali ’23 in association with The Telegraph on International Mother Language Day, February 21.
The event took place at Fr. Depelchin auditorium of St. Xavier’s College, Park Street, where the Rev. Dr Dominic Savio, SJ, principal of St. Xavier’s College, Rev. Fr. Jeyaraj Veluswamy, S.J. rector of St. Xavier’s College and the honorary secretary of the St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata) Alumni Association, Firdausul Hasan, felicitated 10 eminent Bengalis from all walks of life.
Started in 2011, the college is hosting the Dashobhuja Bangali to celebrate the Bengali language and has felicitated numerous Bengali personalities over the years. Bongo Shahitto Somiti in St. Xavier’s is the oldest committee that has continuously honoured and maintained the Bengali language, intellectualism and culture in the city.
This year Dashobhuja Bangali witnessed the success stories of 10 personalities who have made us proud.
(L-R)Firdausul Hasan,Rev. Dr Dominic Savio
Firdausul Hasan, honorary secretary, St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata) Alumni Association, said, “We Xaverians are proud to be able to pull off the 12th edition of Dashobhuja Bangali, which is a kind of culmination of the celebration of International Mother Language Day, which again is flagged off in Dhaka, at the Shohid Bedi. Each year we try to find and bring to the limelight personalities who may not be in the spotlight but nevertheless, have glorious achievements to their credit. It is our way of reminding ourselves that we must continue to give our best to society, through whatever work we are doing. I thank my teammates for working together to make this event such a grand success, year after year!”
“I urge all to respect each other’s mother language as Dashobhuja is commemorative towards the celebration of International Mother Language Day. In an English medium college like Xavier’s, we’re celebrating Bhasha Dibas in such a grand way is itself portraying our tradition and contribution towards rich Bengali culture for decades,” said Rev. Dr Dominic Savio, SJ, principal, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous) Kolkata and president, St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata) Alumni Association, who also gave the welcome speech in Bengali.
Bangladeshi film actor MA. Alamgir won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor. The actor shared his experience of acting in Shotto Mittha in Kolkata and in Tollywood.
Cricketer Wriddhiman Saha was also felicitated. He described how grateful he was to play for Bengal and said he always wanted to make Bengal proud with his cricket skills.
Tollywood actor Kharaj Mukherjee, also a Xaverian, received the award and shared his experience during the making of his song Hai Bangali hai and how people appreciated him for the song.
IPS Soumen Mitra, also a Xaverian who was one of the awardees, shared his memories of being an ex-student of the institution and spoke on how Xavier’s taught him values like fairness and sportsmanship, which comes in handy in his field.
Veteran Tollywood actress Madhabi Mukherjee was the first one to be awarded. She shared how proud she was to have stayed on in the Bengali film industry even after film offers from Bollywood and Hollywood.
Renowned restauranteur and founder of Speciality Restaurants Limited, Anjan Chatterjee was awarded for his contribution to the industry. He shared how he enjoys watching British people relish Bengali food at his restaurant Chourangi in London.
Footballer Bidesh Bose who played for the football club Mohun Bagan thanked Fr. Savio for felicitating him and spoke on how St. Xavier’s finds the forgotten hidden talents.
Songwriter, music composer and the lead vocalist of Bengali rock band Fossils, Rupam Islam was also felicitated as Dashobhuja Bangali ’23. The whole auditorium filled with Xaverians chanted his name as he went on the stage to receive the award. Rupam also shared how he loves the intensity of the Bengali language when he writes his lyrics. He also sang for the audience.
Indian theatre artiste Goutam Halder was felicitated for his excellence in varied theatre acting. The artiste also entertained the audience with his spectacular Bengali poetry recitation.
An introvert by nature, author Smaranjit Chakraborty shared how writing books in the Bengali language gave him a ticket to visit St. Xavier’s College, upon being felicitated.
