Bengali Heritage Month

Bengali Heritage Month March 2012

The Miah family, Woodseer St, E1

A festival celebrating the history and culture of Bangladeshi people in the East End, at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives and venues across the borough

Unveiling the arch in Altab Ali Park, 1 October 1989.

Bengali Heritage Month In March 2012, Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives presents a festival celebrating the culture and history of Bangladeshi people in East London. Visit your local Idea Store or library to enjoy a range of cultural activities for all ages including talks, poetry, drama, cookery, film screenings, live music, arts and crafts and a brand new exhibition on the history of the Bengali East End. All events are free and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information about any event please call 020 7364 1290 or visit www.ideastore.co.uk

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Bengali Heritage Treasure Hunt [Ages 5-11] Saturday 3 March 2:00pm Bethnal Green Library Join the Treasure Hunt and discover more about Bengali heritage and culture. Prizes to be won!

Inspiring Women! [Adults] Thursday 8 March 6:00 - 8:30pm Idea Store Whitechapel An evening with six inspiring Bangladeshi women, who are making a huge contribution to our society in challenging situations.

Poetry Evening [Adults] Saturday 10 March 2:00 - 4:00pm Idea Store Whitechapel Poetry recital and cultural discussion with prominent poets, presented by the popular literary organisation Punascho.

Drama [All ages] Sunday 11 March 2:00 - 4:00pm Idea Store Whitechapel A collection of short comic strips from the celebrated works of Tagore, followed with traditional folk songs.

Aaj Kal [All ages] Wednesday 14 March 11:00am - 1:00pm Idea Store Chrisp Street As part of the regular Aaj Kal sessions at ISCS, Dr Ahmedullah from the Brick Lane Circle will give a talk on the ‘Diverse Roots Of Bengali Culture’.

Golden Time [Ages 50+] Thursday 15 March 10:00am - 12 noon Idea Store Chrisp Street For this week’s Golden Time event for the over 50s, Dr Ahmedullah from the Brick Lane Circle will give an insight into the rich history of textiles from Bengal, especially the muslin which was fashionable amongst London ladies from as early as the 17th century.

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The Bengali East End exhibition launch [All ages] Thursday 15 March 6:00 - 8:00pm Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives Ever wondered how the Bangladeshi community’s settlement took shape in Tower Hamlets? A brand new exhibition telling the story of Bengali people in the East End has been curated by Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives, in partnership with Swadhinata Trust, a locally based organisation promoting Bengali cultural heritage. Using newly acquired photographs, oral histories and archival materials from the council's collections, The Bengali East End traces the history of Bangladeshi people in Tower Hamlets, exploring the experiences of Bengali East Enders and their contributions to contemporary British culture. Also featuring a screening of the rarely seen short film 'Nora – Emerald of Bengal', directed by Charlie Sen and set during the Bangladesh Independence Day anniversary commemoration in Altab Ali Park. 'Nora' follows a young Irish woman whose courage and selflessness lead her to play a major role in the Bangladesh liberation struggle – formed through a 4

love affair with another land, another language, and the man she would marry. Refreshments provided, and your chance to try traditional Bengali crafts with Heba women's group.

The Bengali East End exhibition will be on display until 3 May 2012.

Please see www.ideastore.co.uk for opening hours.

My Life Story [All ages] Saturday 17 March 2:00pm Bethnal Green Library Come and share your stories of living and working in Tower Hamlets over the years. How have things changed?

Refreshments provided.

Films of Ruhul Amin [All ages] Saturday 17 March 2:00 - 4:00pm Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives Two films based on the East End by critically acclaimed film director Ruhul Amin. Refreshments provided.

Bengali poetry and drama [All ages] Sunday 18 March 2:00 - 4:00pm Idea Store Chrisp Street An afternoon of poetry and drama from highly acclaimed Bengali poets and playwrights, including Rabindranath Tagore, the first nonEuropean Nobel laureate.

Snapshots 9: Banglatown [All ages] Saturday 24 March Rich Mix Programmed to tie in with Bangladesh Independence Day on 26 March, this open day at Rich Mix will feature a range of activities and events inspired

by Bengali culture in East London.

Threads of Fashion – why muslin became the most fashionable fabric in the eighteenth century [All ages] Thursday 22 March 6:00 - 8:00pm Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives Talk with Amy Miller, Curator of Decorative Arts and Material Culture at the National Maritime Museum, London.

Family learning - Bengali Cookery [Adults] Thursday 29 March 4:30 - 7:30pm Shadwell Centre Join cookery tutor Sultana Qureshi and learn how to cook traditional Bengali food. Discover new ingredients and tastes! Maximum 12 places. Booking free (there will be a small cost for ingredients). Please book using the Idea Store Learning hotline number: 0207 3645665.

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Art Attack [Under 16] Friday 23 March 4:30 - 5:30pm Idea Store Chrisp Street Come along to Art Attack, our regular children’s art session, and make a collage inspired by Shaheed Minar, the national monument in Dhaka.

Pita Mela [All ages] Sunday 25 March 11:30am - 5:00pm Idea Store Whitechapel In celebration of Bangladesh Independence Day, share the magical taste of Bangladeshi Pita and indulge in music and dance performances by the most prominent folk and traditional singers and performers.

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‘Before Tagore: Music, Farce, and Muslim Patrons in 19th Century Bengal’ [All ages] Thursday 29 March 6:00 - 8:00pm Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives Chaired by Muhammad Ahmedullah of the Brick Lane Circle, this panel presentation will focus on the various kinds of genre, artist, and performance space that thrived amid the Bengal Renaissance. A re-examination of the field indicates the many audiences and tastes that were cultivated in court cultures, religious processions, and the salons of the gentry. By considering genres such as Kobigaan in relation to the stage and farces, the conversation between these art forms and their creators comes into focus.

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These developments were not merely background material for later displays of genius, and demand recognition as profound contributions to the musical heritage of Bengal. With Priyanka Basu, a MPhil/PhD student at the Department of the Languages and Cultures of South Asia, SOAS, and Richard David Williams, MPhil/PhD student at the Department of Music and a member of the India Institute at King’s College London.

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Concert [All ages] Saturday 31 March 2:00 - 4:00pm Idea Store Chrisp Street To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Bengali independence, Idea Store Chrisp Street presents a concert featuring an eclectic selection of Bengali music.

Rabindranath Tagore Poetry Chain [All ages] Saturday 31 March 2:00pm Bethnal Green Library Join our poetry chain as we celebrate the magical poems of Tagore. Join in or just listen to Tagore’s poetry in English and Bengali. Refreshments provided.

Pick and Cook [Adults] Monday 5 and Monday 19 March and the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month 11am - 2pm Brady Centre Our free Pick and Cook sessions are an opportunity to learn how to cook using garden produce. Create tasty, interesting and nutritious meals and share food in a friendly setting. For more information contact gardens@ spitalfieldscityfarm.org Get your hands dirty [All ages] Spitalfields City Farm Grow your own food! Women only sessions are available on Tuesdays and general sessions open to all are held on Wednesdays. For more information and to book a place please call 020 7247 8762. arm

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Idea Store Opening Times Monday-Thursday

9:00am - 9:00pm

Friday

9:00am - 6:00pm

Saturday

9:00am - 5:00pm

Sunday

10:00am - 4:00pm (Bow, Chrisp Street) 11:00am - 5:00pm (Whitechapel)

12:00 noon - 6:00pm (Canary Wharf)

Library Opening Times Monday 10:00am - 6:00pm (Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) Closed (Local History/Archives) Tuesday 10:00am - 6:00pm (Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) 10:00am - 5:00pm (Local History/Archives) Wednesday 10:00am - 6:00pm (Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) 9:00am - 5:00pm (Local History/Archives) Thursday 10:00am - 8:00pm (Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) 9:00am - 8:00pm (Local History/Archives) Friday

10:00am - 6:00pm Closed

(Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) (Local History/Archives)

Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm 9:00am - 5:00pm

(Bethnal Green, Cubitt Town, Watney Market) (Local History/Archives open fortnightly see below)

Local History Saturday Opening Dates: 3, 17 and 31 March 2012

Sunday Closed For more information about any of our events, just ask at the helpdesk, call 020 7364 1290 or visit www.ideastore.co.uk