Kranti a cultural organisation celebrates on the launching of its new body

The evening at the foot of the Shaheed Minar resounded with music on August 31, on occasion of the yearly general meeting of ‘Kranti’– a reputed group of cultural activists. Entitled ‘Surer Rangdhonu’ (The Rainbow of Music), the cultural programme celebrated the new governing committee of Kranti elected in the morning that day.

Syed Moajjem Hossain was elected the president of the new committee while Mahbubul Haider Mohon became the general secretary. The other elected were: Jahangir Alam and Nilufar Banu Lili as the vice presidents; Nazrul Islam, the treasurer; and Mujtaba Ahmed Murshed, Advocate Khurshid Alam Swapan, Shah Rezaul Mahmud, Tulip Ahmed Tuli, Sharmin Islam Subarna, Sheikh Milon, Kiran Masud, Samson Sarkar, Jashim Uddin and Khorshed Alam– the executive members.

The cultural function, although supposed to have been held at Nat-Mandal of Dhaka University, eventually took place at the Shaheed Minar due to some unavoidable circumstances. Also, due to sudden illness, poet Shamsur Rahman could not grace the occasion being the chief guest. The poet, however, expressed his hope that Kranti would succeed in all their activities, in a message published in a special issue brought out on the occasion.

The programme however, was successful and a host of audience gathered at the Shaheed Minar– flooded with light and enjoying the melodies of various Bangla songs. Kranti’s artistes rendered a choice of Bangla patriotic songs as well as Rabindra-sangeet, Nazrul-geeti, song of Atul Prasad, folk and modern Bangla songs. The programme obviously showed the promising talents of Kranti– both individually and collectively. Mujtaba Ahmed Murshed announced that the programme had been dedicated for the common people, who gathered around.

Energized by its slogan, ‘Let culture be the instrument to reformation of society,’ Kranti has a legacy of thirty-six years of cultural activity since its formation in February 1966, by Barrister Hasan Pervez and journalist Kamal Lohani. Kranti has its contribution to the Liberation War by inspiring patriotic conscience in people. But Kranti became ‘quiet’ for some time in the post-Liberation Bangladesh.

In 1985, during the autocratic military rule, Kranti was, however, reorganised by Mahbubul Haider Mohon. Since then the group has been working for the cause of humanity.

Harun ur Rashid