Shilpakala to honour seven Lalon researchers, devotees

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, for the first time, will honour seven Lalon researchers and devotees in recognition of their contributions to research and devotion to the prominent Bengali Baul saint Fakir Lalon Shah.

Prof Dr Abul Ahsan Chowdhury and Prof Dr Shaktinath Jha from India will receive the honour for their special contribution to research on Lalon.

Parvathy Das Baul from India, Fakir Mohammad Ali Shah from Kushtia, Fakir Ajmol Shah from Faridpur, Nizam Uddin Laloni from Magura, and Shuru Bala Roy from Thakurgaon will receive the honour for their devotion to Lalon Shah. They will be presented with a crest, a certificate and Tk 25,000 each.

The prizes will be handed over to the recipients at a festival organised by Shilpakala Academy on its premises today commemorating the 131st death anniversary of Fakir Lalon.

Besides, the 31st session of ‘Sadhu Mela’, a gathering of Baul singers, will also be held at the ‘Baul Kunja’ of BSA premises on the same day remembering the thoughts and teachings of Lalon.

Planned by BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky in coordination with its production department, the ‘Lalon festival’ will begin at 5:00pm, reads a press release.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif is scheduled to attend the event as the chief guest while Cultural Affairs Ministry Secretary Md Abul Mansur will be the special guest. Shilpakala Academy’s Secretary Md Asaduzzaman will deliver the keynote speech at the event to be chaired by DG Lucky in the chair.

At the event, Fakir Nahir Shah and Deborah Jannat will hold special discussions on the life and thoughts of Fakir Lalon.

Various artists including Samir Baul, Mousumi Akter Salma, Kangalini Sufia, Baul Shafi Mondal, Kohinur Akter Golapi, Pratul Hazra, Beauty Khanam, Sardar Hirak Raja, Sultana Yasmin Laila, Bidyut Sarker, Farzana Khatun Doly, Baul Faruk and Nasrin Akter Beauty and musical troupes from Bangladesh Baul O Baul Shilpy Sangstha and Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) will perform at the festival.

Shilpakala Academy organises ‘Sadhu Mela’ on ‘Purnia Tithi’ (Full Moon day) each month since the year 2019, remembering the mystic poet Fakir Lalon Shah.