Ode to Bangabandhu on ‘Taal Patar Puthi’

Commemorating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, France-based Bengali playwright Choyon Khairul Habib and eminent Bangladeshi artist Afrozaa Jamil Konka have collaborated on creating a unique project titled “Bangalir Porichoy Kabbo”, an epic verse engraved on ‘Taal Patar Puthi’ (manuscript on palm leaves).

At the Nalini Kanta Bhattashali Gallery of National Museum, the ‘puthi’ will be unveiled and showcased to the general audience through an exclusive exhibition – set to be inaugurated on May 12 at 3 pm.

The concept of ‘puthi’ redirects to a book or manuscript which contains lyrical versions of spiritual text or mythical tales from Bengal. A ‘puthi’ could have pages made of bark, leather, wood, or even leaves. Before paper was introduced, these materials were commonly used.

However, with the advent of mass use of paper and development of printing, this unique literary element was lost and almost became extinct.

Choyon Khairul Habib has written the verse titled “Bangalir Porichoy Kabbo” which evolved around Bangabandhu’s revolutionary life – focusing on his role in the 1952 Language Movement to leading the 1971 Liberation War. This was written in 2020 on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birth centenary, while the writer was residing in France.

“In this epic poem-turned-puthi, I have highlighted the history of Bangladesh, the evolution of the Bengali community and the nationality alongside the symbolic narrative of Bangabandhu. I have been interested in Bengali puthi for a long time. From 2010 to 2019 when I wrote the operatic ‘Julekha Trilogy’, I read a lot of puthi. Since I started writing ‘Bangalir Porichoy Kabbo’, the incentive to preserve the work with palm leaf puthi was in my plan,” according to Choyon Khairul Habib.

Even though handmade palm leaf fans exist as a local craft in Bangladesh, there are no remaining artisans skilled in palm leaf painting.

“It was Choyon Khairul Habib’s idea to transform the verse into ‘taal pata puthi’ (palm leaf scroll) and he approached me in 2020 to collaborate on this project,” renowned artist Afrozaa Jamil Konka told UNB. “However, I was sceptical because of the intricate details of the work, so I humbly turned him down.”

This project is to revive the ancient art of ‘taal pata puthi chitra’ which has been lost in time, according to both Choyon Khairul Habib and Afrozaa Jamil Konka.

Both said that they are proud and happy that an exclusive exhibition at the National Museum will display the ‘puthi’ from May 12 to May 23.