Artistes of Chhaya Nata, a cultural group from Bangladesh, perform in Agartala. Picture by Biswajit Bhattacharjee

Globalisation has made an indent in indigenous cultures in various ways, including music. Yet we remain rooted to our past and it was perhaps this that triggered nostalgia as Bangladesh’s celebrity artiste Chandana Mazumder presented melodious folk songs at the Tripura-Bangladesh Maitree (friendship) Utsav in Agartala recently.

The 42-year-old artiste’s lilting rendition of immortal songs penned by itinerant singer Lalon Fakir, Hason Raja and Abbas Uddin riveted the older generation in the appreciative audience. Lalon’s timeless creation, Mon re tui more kothay niye jabi or Jibon re tui ki nibi ar ki dibi more seemed to come alive with Chandana’s rendition, reviving memories of an idyllic, pastoral Bengal of yore.

The two-day programme was organised by the Agartala Press Club on August 22 and 23 to collect funds for the club’s welfare activities.

The club had invited artistes from Dhaka’s famous cultural group, Chhaya Nata. The group, led by Sanjida Khatun, 73, has been engaged in protecting popular and secular culture since its launch in 1961.

Khatun could not accept the invitation, but her singer son Partha Tanveer Naved, Rabindrasangeet celebrity Mita Haque, Nazrul specialists Khairul Anom Shakil, his wife Masuda, Nasim Shahin, and Sutapa Saha, graced the occasion.

Khairul Anom Shakil riveted the audience with his rendition of Qazi Nazrul Islam’s immortal ghazals and songs on Hindu Shakti cult.

Mita Haque charmed the audience with songs penned by Tagore on love and the monsoon. Bijan Chandra Mistry, another folk singer, presented the songs exclusively based on his country’s riverine landscape, boatmen and their culture. His songs touched a sensitive chord in the minds of many in the audience who had left behind a pristine pastoral culture before settling down across the border in search of safety.

“His songs launched me on a journey down the memory lane,” said P.K. Dhar, a retired professor.