Sparks of Bengali Culture

Today I found myself ruminating on the theme of "in-between person" navigating different norms and expectations of varying cultures. I visit here to touch that twilight zone so to speak. Like Jayshree in the video below, I found much solace and strength in Bengali songs and Tagore's poems while going through bumpy times in my life.

. The Bengali wordings very rich in meaning can not be fully translated in English.

A few sacred and sensitive readings of Tagore's poem in English by Dana Andreea Nigrim you may enjoy.
Endless Time & Patience.  One of my favorite songs Ananda dhara (stream of joy is flowing all over the world) sung by Srikanta helps me touch the third of the four immesurable states taught by Buddha. 

Some popular folk songs that we use to dance with in community functions like Sohag Chand Badani and Dhitang Dhitang Bole still makes my feet tap in joy! I am still moved by the life story of an ordinary nameless mail man 'Runner' immortalized by the socialist poet Sukanta, who himself died young at age 20! Enjoy more Bengali songs with english translation here

Call for 2011 Tri State Durga Puja, Louisville Oct 22-23

Dear KY friends please Register, if you are planning to join us for the Durga Puja!!! We can use some new volunteers for serving, setup and and cleanup. See you there! Invocation to Goddess Durga . Who knows KY may win this year's Dhak and/or Conch Competition too! [Last KY Puja]

Satyajiter Satkahan in Bangamela 2010

Treenaneel presents "Satyajiter Satkahan" a composition based on the life and work of the legendary Bengali film maker Satyajit Ray. Ananda Khan, our new community member from Louisville is the creative director of the program. [Resources on Satyajit Ray]. See a rare historical film on Rabinranath Tagore by Satyajit.

Enjoy some of the lofty, magical and sublime love poems of Gitanjali here.



Please visit the 12th Bangamela site to see the highlights of the three day cultural-literary program in Nashville, from July 2 - 4, 2010. You can enjoy it again in the upcoming 26th Tri-State Sarodiya Durga Puja in Cincinnati, October 16-17, 2010.

A happy backstage reunion with Rana

Visit http://wwww.Tristatedurgapuja.org sep26-27, 2009

Listen to a Nazrul song, "[Look] who is going (Ke jai) by the blue Yamuna [river] wearing blue sari (nil sari)"

2009 Upcoming Events

Please make room in your schedule to attend one of this regional Bengali community events

Sep 26-27 Tri-state Durga Puja, Dayton

Treenaneel supports gifted artists from India through Ticket Sales

Sarod Recital, Ranajit Sengupta

Tabla,Subhajyoti Guha

Sunday August 2^nd, 2009: 3PM

Tickets: $20, $30, $50 (Donors $150 & above)

VENUE: BIRD HALL, SCHOOL OF MUSIC UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, KY 40292

Other Events *** July 16-18 Bangamela 2009 Atlanta, Pictures

Treenaneel Shines in Bangamela 2008!

I am very grateful and appreciative of our new Treenaneel team under the leadership of Surojit- Apala and Jasmine. The spirit with which the entire team with many new faces came together in a short notice inspite of my six weeks trip to India, is simply remarkable! I am quoting Parimalda's letter here, along with a preview of Bangamela 2008. It is indeed very heartwarming to see the flowering of Bangamela each year under the umbrella of MABA and the fruition of Bangamela seed conceived and planted by a handful of inspired volunteers of Treenaneel 10 years ago in 1999.

And many kudos and appreciation for the Columbus Team. We know how much time, dedication and hard work go behind the planning, outreach, organization and successful execution of such event!

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Dear Friends:

Bangamela! Bangamela! Bangamela! is resonating in all over North America, Europe, West Bengal and Bangladesh. What an unprecedented success. With an attendance of over 1900, a careful selection of talented local North American artists and overseas performers of dance, instrumental and vocals from West Bengal, Bangladesh, Germany, Belgium and England, Bangamela 2008 committee gave the audience an exhilarating experience. This Bangamela is the best of all the past Bangamelas. Treenaneel members have added another milestone in its history of performances at Bangamela. Hard work and well planned program " Preme Birahe Ridaye Bosonte" and its execution were well paid off. For some early snapshots please go to BanglaPodcastfor review of Bangamela2008 and Picasaweb for Treenaneel program. Three cheers for Treenaneel of Kentucky.

Personally, I thank all the participating members and supporters of Treenaneel for their memorable performance.

Congratulations to you all!

Parimalda

Note: Google announces plans to showcase Bengali classics & movies, PTI 6/20/08

Rabindra Nazrul Jayanti 6/30/2007

Dear Friends of Treenaneel

What a wonderful memorable evening we had after a long time! I felt many elements just came together in near perfect harmony, inspite of the transition phase and some attendant tensions with a New Team in place. As the new President, frankly I wasn't sure how this program is going to turn out with lowkey enthusiasm from Lexington folks, due to many reasons. Here are some highlights..

• We were all pleasantly surprised with the quality of both the childrens' and adults program in such a short notice, the enthusiasm of talented new and old members, active participation of people from Bangladesh Cultural Association and Young new volunteers from Louisville
• Plenty of snacks and great dinner courtesy of Sukhendu, Samiran & Runu Bhadra
• Successful onsite donation and membership collection (over $300)
• Dedication of the Program in loving memory of Sima Rinku Maiti
• A true sense of community, good spirit, appreciation and attitude of service displayed by all

We plan to improve our comunity outreach efforts, website content, and membership with everyone's help and goodwill. My sincere thanks to all members of the New Team and all participants from Lexington, Louiseville and Frankfort area.
Success is not just a good performance, it is the spirit with which everything is done both in the limelight and especially behind the scene. The word "community" comes from the Latin munus, which means the gift, and cum, which means together, among each other. So community literally means to give among each other. Building community takes a lot of thankless no-pay work and great heart. Thanks to all the new students who stayed for the clean-up, put away the garbage, loaded the cars and the last person who made sure lights are off and the door is locked. You know who you are!!!
As you know Treenaneel founding members initiated Bangamela in 1999 and also takes active part in many other community events beside Treenaneel. So our volunteer and other resources are very stretched. Your goodwill, understanding and willingness to help means a lot! Our next focus would be possible participation in Bangamela 2007, India Independence Fair by ICF and Tri-State Durga Puja at Georgetown, KY.
Namoskar
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Following is the English Translation of the famous poem of World Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam that still stirs my blood and gives me goosebump!
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THE REBEL

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Translation: Kabir Chowdhury

This poem was written when Nazrul was only 22 years old.
Here is a Bengali Recitation by Nazrul's own son Kazi Sabyasachi

First Read the English Translation below.
Click here for Bengali Audio File

=========================

Say, Valiant,
Say: High is my Crown!

Looking at my crown
Is cast down the great Himalayan peak!
Say, Valiant,
Say: Ripping apart the wide sky of the Universe
Leaving behind the moon, the sun, the planets
and the stars
Piercing the earth and the heavens,
Pushing through Almighty's sacred seat
Have I risen,
I, the perennial wonder of mother-earth!
The angry God shines on my forehead
Like some royal victory's gorgeous emblem.
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my head!

I am irresponsible, cruel and arrogant,
I an the king of the great upheaval,
I am cyclone, I am destruction,
I am the great fear, the curse of the universe.
I have no mercy,
I grind all to pieces.
I am disorderly and lawless,
I trample under my feet all rules and discipline!
I am Dhurjati, I am the sudden tempest of ultimate summer,
I am the rebel, the rebel-son of mother-earth!
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my crest!

I am the hurricane, I am the cyclone
I destroy all that I found in the path!
I am the dance-intoxicated rhythm,
I dance at my own pleasure,
I am the unfettered joy of life!
I am Hambeer, I am Chhayanata, I am Hindole,
I am ever restless,
I caper and dance as I move!
I do whatever appeals to me, whenever I like,
I embrace the enemy and wrestle with death,
I am mad. I am the tornado!
I am pestilence, the great fear,
I am the death of all reigns of terror,
I am full of a warm restlessness for ever!
Say, Valiant,
Ever high is my head!
 
I am creation, I am destruction,
I am habitation, I am the grave-yard,
I am the end, the end of night!
I am the son of Indrani
With the moon in my head
And the sun on my temple
In one hand of mine is the tender flute
While in the other I hold the war bugle!
I am the Bedouin, I am the Chengis,
I salute none but me!
I am thunder,
I am Brahma's sound in the sky and on the earth,
I am the mighty roar of Israfil's bugle,
I am the great trident of Pinakpani,
I am the staff of the king of truth,
I am the Chakra and the great Shanka,
I am the mighty primordial shout!
I am Bishyamitra's pupil, Durbasha the furious,
I am the fury of the wild fire,
I burn to ashes this universe!
I am the gay laughter of the generous heart,
I am the enemy of creation, the mighty terror!
I am the eclipse of the twelve suns,
I herald the final destruction!
Sometimes I am quiet and serene,
I am in a frenzy at other times,
I am the new youth of dawn,
I crush under my feet the vain glory of the Almighty!

I am the fury of typhoon,
I am the tumultuous roar of the ocean,
I am ever effluent and bright,
I trippingly flow like the gaily warbling brook.
I am the maiden's dark glassy hair,
I am the spark of fire in her blazing eyes.
I am the tender love that lies
In the sixteen year old's heart,
I am the happy beyond measure!
I am the pining soul of the lovesick,
I am the bitter tears in the widow's heart,
i am the piteous sighs of the unlucky!
I am the pain and sorrow of all homeless sufferers,
i am the anguish of the insulted heart,
I am the burning pain and the madness of the jilted lover!

I am the unutterable grief,
I am the trembling first touch of the virgin,
I am the throbbing tenderness of her first stolen kiss.
I am the fleeting glace of the veiled beloved,
I am her constant surreptitious gaze.
I am the gay gripping young girl's love,
I am the jingling music of her bangles!
I am the eternal-child, the adolescent of all times,
I am the shy village maiden frightened by her own budding youth.
I am the soothing breeze of the south,
I am the pensive gale of the east.
I am the deep solemn song sung by the wondering bard,
I am the soft music played on his lyre!
I am the harsh unquenched mid-day thirst,
I am the fierce blazing sun,
I am the softly trilling desert spring,
I am the cool shadowy greenery!
Maddened with an intense joy I rush onward,
I am insane! I am insane!
Suddenly I have come to know myself,
All the false barriers have crumbled today!
I am the rising, I am the fall,
I am consciousness in the unconscious soul,
I am the flag of triumph at the gate of the world,
I am the glorious sign of man's victory,
Clapping my hands in exultation 
I rush like the hurricane,
Traversing the earth and the sky.
The mighty Borrak is the horse I ride.
It neighs impatiently, drunk with delight!
I am the burning volcano in the bosom of the earth,
I am the wild fire of the woods,
I am Hell's mad terrific sea of wrath!
I ride on the wings of the lightning with joy and profound,
I scatter misery and fear all around,
I bring earth-quakes on this world!

I am Orpheus's flute,
I bring sleep to the fevered world,
I make the heaving hells temple in fear and die.
I carry the message of revolt to the earth and the sky!

I am the mighty flood,
Sometimes I make the earth rich and fertile,
At another times I cause colossal damage.
I snatch from Bishnu's bosom the two girls!
I am injustice, I am the shooting star,
I am Saturn, I am the fire of the comet,
I am the poisonous sap!
I am Chandi the headless, I am ruinous Warlord,
 
Sitting in the burning pit of Hell
I smile as the innocent flower!
I am the cruel axe of Parsurama,
I shall kill warriors
And bring peace and harmony in the universe!
I am the plough on the shoulders 
of Balarama,
I shall uproot this miserable earth effortlessly and with ease,
 
And create a new universe of joy and peace.

Weary of struggles, I, the great rebel,
Shall rest in quiet only when I find
The sky and the air free 
of the piteous groans of the oppressed.
Only when the battle fields are 
cleared of jingling bloodysabres
Shall I, weary of struggles, rest in quiet,
I the great rebel.

I am the rebel eternal,
I raise my crown beyond this world,
High, ever erect and alone!
Listen to Bengali Recitation by Poet's Son Kazi Sabyasachi

Courtesy: Mohammad Nurul Huda. Poetry of Kazi Nazrul Islam in English Translation [Dhaka: Nazrul Institute, 2000). pp. 12-16.