Colors: The Pohela Boishakh Issue

42 PAGES OF

&

FASHION, STYLE LUXURY

Cricket

Is

Still a

Gentleman’s Game?

Updates from Society, Art & Culture

THE

POHELA

BOISHAKH

issue

139-07 Hillside Ave Jamaica, NY 1143 Sales: (866) 759-1343 | Pre-Owned: (866) 516-4562

CONTENTS

62 Spring Contour

Makeup: Tilat Khayer Hair styling: Su Jorgensen Photograph by Rafik

Contents COVER FOCUS

96

Becoming Boishakh

The making of Subcontinent’s own New Years’s Eve:

Historical Perspective

12 Contributors 17 From the Editor

FASHION & STYLE

{

70

20 What’s trendy this season: the shortlist of dress, makeup and colors you should opt for 21 Boishakhi shaaj is all about red and white. Period!

The Interview: Jannatul Ferdous Peya, the girl who has it all 22 Give your closet a breezy

update: dressees, accessories and shoes for summer from O2 26 Five different fragrances for five different personalities

Makeup & Hair: Farzana Shakil’s Photography: Riyad Ashraf

Fashion & Glamour Portfolios 28 Shoppers World takes the glam quotient higher with their precious offerings 34 Rang’s color burst is what life should be all about 40 Priya Chhabria’s dreamy collection will enthrall you for sure 48 Almira delves deep into the meditative sense of fashion and couture 54 Purity of pearl and shine of gold are all you need to adorn your precious body with 62 Spring’s hotttest makeup sutras to learn and apply

UPDATE

76 Dhaka has become the

melting pot of art and culture with so many festivals happening from the beginning till the end of the year 78 2014 was a musical year: starting from rockfest to sufi fest, every single form of music that soothed our auditory buds 80 Bangladeshi idiosyncracies on facebook that should be avoided 81 First time at the New York City? Here is a survival guide for you 82 Prito Reza’s candid interview will inform you about the wedding photography scene of the country 84 Celebrating Pohela Boishakh at New York city is all about showing respect and solidarity with Bangladeshi culture 86 Interview of Engr. Farasath Ali, the Chairman of NRB Commercial Bank Ltd. 88 Remembering Zainul Abedin, our most-beloved Shilpacharya 90 Boishakhi staple for your taste buds: recipes from Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resorts

MUSING

102 Is cricket still a Gentle

Man’s game? Read on to find out 108 Wedding rituals: Do they make sense any more?

112 Why we want a woman’s face on taka and what it means for empowerment 113 A nostalgic writer recalls his sweet memories with food 118 The heart-warming story of orphans of the Rana Plaza victims

28

P. Bidya Sinha Meem for Shopper’s World

contributors

the TEAM EDITOR IN-CHIEF & PUBLISHER Zakaria Masud

MANAGING EDITOR Mila Hossain

Nandini Shahla Chowdhury

Nandini is a communications professional, currently working with an International Child Rights Organization in Bangladesh. With academic background in Mass Communication & Journalism, a NORAD fellow Nandini takes great interest in Gender & Communication, from the global scenario to the country situation.

Priya Chhabria

Priya's forte is designing Indian wear for men and women, where she merges Indian embroideries with western cuts to give her collection an International appeal. She has now launched her own private label "Priya Chhabria" which is retailing at Raaz (Chicago), Anokhi Ada (Atlanta), Indiva in Toronto. Her inspiration for design can be anything, sometimes is the motif on a grill of a window, or just a fabric, or maybe the colors of a city she visited!

The idea behind the garment is to make the person wearing feel special.

ADVISER TO EDITOR Adil Hossain Noble

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Abu Nayeem

ADVISING EDITOR Munawar Hosen

CREATIVE ADVISER Tamanna Jahan

FEATURE WRITERS Monija Rahman Faria Ahmed

GRAPHICS DESIGN Sk. Yeahhia

PHOTOGRAPHY Riyad Ashraf

MARKETING

A.K.M. Nizamul Alam Anisur Rahman

International Fashion & Lifestyle Magazine An

Published by

Publication

Zakaria Masud on behalf of Digital One Media Ltd.

Send us your feedback at colorsnyc.2000@gmail.com

New York Office

Tilat Khayer

The UK-based makeup artist recently launched a new line of highend makeup brand. The products of the eponymous makeup brand have taken the industry by storm by catering primarily to Asian skin tones. Khayer states that the inspiration for creating the line was the simple fact that no existing brands on the market were created specifically with the requirements of the Asian skin tones in mind. Her line on the other hand, includes not only an extensive colour selection but also a complete range of foundations, eye shadows and lipsticks where the shades have been carefully created to best suit the Asian skin tone.

Tilat Khayer’s products are Paraben Free, HypoAllergenic, Allergy Tested, NonComedogenic, Fragrance Free and Not Tested on Animals.

37 07 74th street suite 8. Jackson heights New York 11372.

Phone: +19175179777 Fax: +17188659130

London office

c/o: Tamanna Jahan, 33 Lazar Walk, London N7 7RR, United Kingdom, Phone: +447985686653

Dhaka Office

Road: 119 House: 22 Gulshan 2, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh.

Phone: +8801787693087

From the EDITOR

C

COLORS is an international Fashion and Lifestyle magazine. It has always been my dream to publish a magazine that will represent Bangladesh to the world. My motherland, Bangladesh is a country full of diversity in color and thoughts. It is a country where people never forget to smile instead of so many drudgeries of daily life. A country where people clad in clothes having warm hues set streets on fire during spring and summer. This magazine is an humble ode to the beauty and diversity of all of us, the Bangladeshis, no matter where we live.

In the first issue, we have tried to showcase forth everything from fresh perspectives. In fashion portfolios, we have come up with a unique ensemble.

The fashion portfolio of Rang is something that is totally in line with what Colors is all about. Playful use of so many bright colors reminds us that after the floral spring, we are on our way to embrace a wonderful summer, which starts with celebrating the Pohela Boishakh, the first day of Bengali New year on April 14. Shoppers World’s elegant portfolio is an impeccable tribute to feminine beauty in different attires.

Nevertheless, we have two other different portfolios where tones are subtle and sublime yet significant; pictures of trendy long kameez or evening dress portraying serenity of nature at its best.

Almira by Shahrukh Amin has always

surprised us with its meditative representation. On the other hand, Priya Chhabria, the famous Indian designer’s subtlety-laden fantasy world will surely wow our readers. My special thanks to Farzana Shakil and Tilat Khayer. They made the beauty of our models more ethereal with their midas touch. We are certainly grateful to all designers, make up artists and models for shaking hands with Colors from its maiden issue. Also, thanks to our Editorial advisers for their support and cooperation.

In our Musing section, we wanted to shed lights on some thought-provoking issues. Shateel Bin Salah’s piece is a wonderful depiction of how long-cherished wedding traditions are taking a backseat in the sub-continent making rooms for more short-cut trends, some of which are not very close to our heart.

Amitabh Dewry’s piece Gone Taste Gone will certainly make your mouth water!

As fast foods are becoming a part and parcel of our lives, meals cooked with so much love and precision by our mothers are only available in nostalgia. Syed Faiz Ahmed’s piece on cricket, current heart-throb of every Bangladeshi raises some serious questions about the evolution of the Gentle Man’s game. Read on to find out more!

One of the reasons we are bringing out this magazine is we want our vibrant Diaspora communities in New York and London to know more about the country they miss so much! Updates will give readers a glimpse of our beloved Dhaka and its various events and activities.

Though Dhaka lacks its credibility as a livable town in many indexes, what fascinates me about the city is its crowd.

In course of time, it has become a melting pot of cultures and activities.

This magazine is a beginning to exchanges beautiful ideas and thoughts pertaining to fashion, beauty and lifestyle among the people from different communities, countries and continents.

We would feel grateful if you give us your valuable feedback.

Happy reading!

Zakaria Masud Editor

&

Fashion

STYLE

colors TREND

Bold

Beautiful With every New Year comes a set of new resolutions. For designers this year’s resolution was to bring back what has been forgotten. And they are only trying to change the world one sequin at a time.

Shati Ahmed brings you a list of all the top trends set for this year reflecting the minds of the hottest designers showcasing their creations on fashion weeks around the world. Because ladies, beauty is power and it is always important to keep it stylish.

2 1 3 Denim

Dare to flare

Flared trousers are huge this spring. I know what you are thinking, that’s so seventies! And that is the point. Skinny jeans devotees be brave and switch to more breezy options. Rock the flare look with a neutral base flared trouser with plaid or printed shirts and satin tops. www.overstock.com

Jeans (the material) never go out of fashion. It’s a matter that is stuck in the infinite loop hole. The thought of a jean jacket in my closet last year this time made me cringe. However this year, it is a must.

Make sure to take those dark non faded jean shirts, jackets, hot pants and over alls and work them into real life. www.homenwomen.com

4

Outlined

Lined bolder lips are back! Yes, the ancient beauty trick of lining your lips with a liner before applying color to make them appear more plump and alluring. Go dark on those shades of lip color this summer, pick a matching liner that is bendable and get creative.

COLORSNYC.COM – 20

Fringe festival

Remember Nancy Sinatra in her ridiculous fringe dresses? Fringe has a way of seeming clumsy but when done right can be very clumsily sexy. Mid jackets with fringe can be paired with solid colored cotton tees and jeans. A long fringe summer dress paired with gladiator sandals or a short fringe dress with a jean jacket and high heels.

5

Color me

2015 is a bold year with bright colorful floral/kaleidoscopic prints, geometric shapes or two toned polka. Hit the streets with vibrant loud colors like fuchsia, burgundy, olive, amber, purple, plum and beet. www.lyst.com

colors TREND

The epitome of “boishakhi shaaj” is white and red. Why? No one knows its root but I will tell you why it should never go away. And what you are doing right by wearing these colors.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, said Leonardo da Vinci, and no other color than white has the utmost sophistication; it is the color of purity, devotion, innocence and cleanliness-everything you need to start a new year peacefully. Not to mention regardless of your complexion based on numerous studies white brings out the best in people; the white attire with your complexion, creates a contrast and reveals your eyes.

Red, on the other hand, is a powerful and emotionally intense color. It is the color of fire and blood; of energy, love and passion.

Everything to represent your patriotism and your desire to bring forth your culture. So you have an option to either go all white or when in doubt go all red. Or none but mix the two most contrasting colors in meaning to tell your story.

The and

RIOT

The red and white combination, with the white background and touch of red ‘paar’ or ‘jori’ is a brilliant combination. Because both these colors are aposematic, meaning used as warning colors in nature. Therefore animals, including humans, have a deep rooted reaction to these colors. They make you take notice. Your body can't help it.

Every year there is a fashion statement made by at least one top designer with white as one of their first colors. So absolutely nothing can go wrong with a color that never goes out of fashion.

I suggest you have those ‘reshmi churis’ ready or bling it up with some clay ornaments; that red bindi perfectly placed at the centre of your forehead. Go easy in the makeup this year, again simplicity is the key here, with a hint of red on your sharee or kameez, perfectly lined eyes and red fiery lips-you will be a blown out fashion statement. All the while being vibrant and beautiful representing our beloved culture and history.

colors LIST

Breathe on!

To keep up with the rapidly changing seasons, you need to arm yourself with the right clothing and accessories. This summer it is time to blend in the deshi flare with a chic, western look that will be true to your taste as well as heritage. So tag along with Faria Ahmed and stuff that shopping bag with summer must haves of 2015 from O2’s store. Your closet will thank you for it. Photographs by Sakib Muhtasin

Converses

Denim converses in bold red, blue and brown are the hottest picks of the season. Simply because the material complements the weather and keeps the risks of smelly feet to an all-time low while ensuring that hint of colour in your jeans or jacket finds harmony in the matching color of your converses.

BDT 3450 to BDT 4500

The Classic Nehru Coat

The Nehru coat fashion has been reincarnated from the 1950s and there is nothing classier than these button-up, Mandarin-collared, sleeveless jackets. Wear it over a full-sleeved shirt, tee, or even a Panjabi for the added feel of elegance. It is available in a multitude of colors and fabrics, but the cotton khadi ones are perfect for your summer look. 02 offers a wide range of pocket silk handkerchiefs, pre-folded and set for you to slip one into to chest pocket and turn it into an event worthy outfit.

BDT 3450 to BDT 4500

Cotton Scarves

Use a super-trendy striped scarf to bring out the oomph of a basic summer dress and turn it into a well-accessorized outfit.

The basic blues, purples and greens are complemented with the occasional raw red and hot pink stripes. Most importantly, you can style it in a dozen different ways to make the look a little more ‘you’.

Stretchy Slim fit Jeans

BDT 666+

Chiffon Button-Up Shirts

Summer jeans need to give you flexibility, comfort and style.

That is exactly what these stretchy slim fits will do for you.

These bodyhugging pants are available in a range of bold colors including maroon, bottle green, blue and the classic shades of denims like blue, ash and bronze. The bottom fold-up sleeves in some have contrasting patches of stripes to add some fun to the monotone fabric. Match it with a pair of converses and you’re ready to hit the streets.

BDT 1480 to 1900+

The best way to avoid creases and sweat marks on cotton shirts and still have the ideal semi-formal, chic look is to opt for a collared chiffon shirt with the occasional pleats or patterns. With a basic tank top and a loose fitting shirt, you still have room to pair it with a high-waist skirt for official meetings and basic denim for the evening hangout.

BDT 1300+

Cotton Palazzo

The only answer we need is ‘just because it’s a cotton palazzo!’

There is nothing more comfy and trendy to wear in the summer time than a well cut palazzo. For a fun day out you can choose a multi-colored polka or floral pattern while leaving the deeper shades and more subtle prints for the evenings. Wear it with a crop top, a long tee, a shirt or anything you may prefer. The cut is airy and allows you to be both fashionable and flexible at the same time.

BDT 1200+

Men

Women

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 23

5

smell GOOD Dare to Dream:

This last one is for the teens and young adults living a semi cyber life, who can dare to take a peek outside the fine limits of the banded boxes every now and then.

From the Youtube superstar, Bethany Mota, comes her first line of perfume after her clothing line, both named after her, of course.

The fragrance is exactly like the packaging, youthful and adventurous. Launched exclusively through Aeropostale and available only in the US, the fragrance combines the celeb’s personal style which is a fusion between tribal, ethnic and adorably girly. Just like her, the packaging is full of surprises. So, the real question is- Do you dare?

By F.A.

Casually Intriguing:

From Burberry’s latest collection, ‘my Burberry’ is the fragrance that defines everything about your personality. This unique and intoxicating blend is thought to be an embodiment of everything that defines the brand and a little bit of complicated, with a hint of exciting and a lot of ‘need forever to figure me out’ surely exists in its mystical aura. Starting from sweet pea, bergamot, geranium leaves, to freesia – this fragrance it has everything required to make this that complex elixir that will keep them wondering!

Summer Must-Have

FRAGRANCES FOR WOMEN Some say fashion and fragrances pack all women into one, identical box. Colors picks fragrances for women for five different moods.

Inevitable Diva:

You are clever, fun-loving, beautiful and a fashionista. Most importantly, you are aware of what is hot in the fragrance list this summer. This is exactly why the Victoria’s Secret BOMBSHELL is an absolute must for your summer collection. Gone are the ‘Tease’ and ‘Heartbreakers’ because this season is the time to live life to the fullest and bask in your own glory.

You are- the bombshell in every room.

Flower Power:

If you believe in the subtle beauty and elegance of a garden of summer flowers, then you are in for a pleasant surprise. ‘Flora’ by GUCCI is sure to remind you, and anyone around you of that perfect garden filled with white gardenias and frangipanis, just basking in the summer sun. Who needs to worry about the problems of the world when all the pieces fall right into place at the nostalgic memory of a garden in full bloom.

Bold, Beautiful and Hypnotic:

Remember that decade when you stopped people-pleasing? This strong fragrance is for the woman who knows exactly what she wants and who she is. Profoundly feminine, the aura emanates of strength, power and passion - a combination surely instigates hypnotism. Yes, we recommend the Hypnotic Poison from Dior. Although an ancient choice but it has delivered in its promise for years.

For God's sake hold your tongue,

and let me love,

Or chide my palsy, or my gout, My five gray hairs, or ruined fortune flout, With wealth your state, your mind with arts improve, Take you a course, get you a place, Observe his honor, or his grace, Or the king's real, or his stampèd face Contemplate; what you will, approve, So you will let me love...

The Canonization

BY JOHN DONNE

An Affair to REMEMBER

Wardrobe: Shoppers World, Dhaka (Price upon request)

Makeup and Hair styling: Farzana Shakil’s Photography: Riyad Ashraf

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 29

COLORSNYC.COM – 30

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 31

COLORSNYC.COM – 32

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 75

Color

Burst

...Oft the colours are

pitched so high

The deepest note is the cobalt sky; We have to wait till the sunset comes For shades that feel like the beat of drums Or like organ notes in their rise and fall Purple and orange and cardinal, Or the peacock-green that turns soft and slow To peacock-blue as the great stars show . . .

The Colours Of Light by DOROTHEA MACKELLAR

Wardrobe & Photographs: Rang For details of wardrobe and prices, please visit: www.rang-bd.com

Who gave thee,

O Beauty!

The frailest leaf, the mossy bark, The acorn's cup, the raindrop's arc, The swinging spider's silver line, The ruby of the drop of wine, The shining pebble of the pond, Thou inscribest with a bond In thy momentary play Would bankrupt Nature to repay.

Ode To Beauty

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Surreal

Serenity

Wardrobe: ‘Priya Chhabria’ by Priya Chhabria Makeup: Shubhra Khandelwal Photographer: Cunal Ranjan

COLORSNYC.COM – 75

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 75

I considered her

my god,

too blinded by my lover for her, It was only then I realised I was blinded, when she quoted that

god never belongs to just one!

By Mirza Ghalib

Blind Wardrobe: Almira by Shahrukh Amin Makeup & Hair Styling: Quazi Qumrul Islam, Banthai Barber & Beauty Salon Photography: Topu Rehman

Love

My

Precious

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower; But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

BY ROBERT FROST

Jewelry: Nakshatra Gold, Pink City, Dhaka (Price upon request)

Makeup & Hair styling: Farzana Shakil’s Photography: Riyad Ashraf Model: Ulfat

Mega Sale at Emirates Airlines Tickets

DIGITAL ONE TRAVEL

colors LOOK

Face: Eyes:

‘Tilat Khayer Flawless Finish’ foundation is applied across her face and neck.

‘Gold front’ shimmer is applied at the corners and Eye Pencil in colour ‘Onyx’ is used to define the lash line.

Lips: Lip Pencil in shade ‘Cabernet’ is used with a touch of ‘Tilat Khayer’ gloss in colour ‘Venom’.

Blush: The shade ‘high five’ is blended across her cheeks.

Hair: Curlers were set to create large curls. Hair is taken to the left and blow-dried with a final setting spray to hold it in place.

SP RI N G CONTOUR Internationally renowned makeup artist Tilat Khayer creates striking new looks for spring as she introduces her range of signature colors. Hairstyling by Aklima and Photographs by Riyad Ashraf

colors LOOK

Face:

‘Tilat Khayer’ ‘Hi-Def’ foundation is applied across her face and neck to create a smooth complexion.

Eyes: ‘Tilat Khayer’ eye shadow ‘Gold Front’ is blended across the lids and Gel Eye Pencil in the shade ‘Black Caviar’ is used to define the lash lines.

Lips: Lip Pencil in the shade ‘Sweet’ is used to draw the outer shape while the lips are filled in using Lipstick Rio. Blush: ‘Tropicana’ shade blusher is blended across the cheeks.

Hair: Large curlers are used to create locks towards the end of the strands. Hair is parted onto the left and at the forehead it is sleek blow-dried.

colors LOOK

Face: Eyes:

‘Tilat Khayer Flawless Finish’ foundation is applied across her face and neck.

A blend of ‘Tilat Khayer’ eye shadows in colours ‘Turkish, Perfection’ and ‘Brownie’ is blended on the lids. A Gel Eye Pencil, in colour ‘Black Caviar’ is used to across the upper lash lines.

Lips: ‘Tilat Khayer’ Lip Pencil in shade ‘Tomango’ together with Lipstick in ‘Just Out’ are used on her lips.

Blush: ‘Tilat Khayer’ blush ‘Hot & Spicy’ is blended across her cheeks.

Hair: It is cut in multiple layers. Mousse is applied on wet hair and blow-dried to give it volume and bounce.

Face:

‘Tilat Khayer’ ‘Hi-Def’ foundation is applied across her face and neck to create a smooth complexion.

Eyes: Eye shadows ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Fearless’ is blended across the lids.

Gel Eye Pencil ‘Moody Blue’ is used to define the lash lines.

Lips: Lip Pencil ‘Maya’ is used to draw the shape of the lips and ‘Velvet Crush’ lipstick is used to fill in.

Blush: ‘Baha’ shade blusher is blended across her cheeks.

Hair: At the forehead the hair is backcombed to create a lift with the front strands combed to conceal it. Lower ends of the hair are curled using a tong.

Face:

‘Tilat Khayer Flawless Finish’ foundation is applied across her face and neck.

Eyes: Eye shadows in colours ‘Foil’, ‘Dominate’ and ‘White Star’ is blended across the lids. Gel Eye Pencil in the shade ‘Black Caviar’ is used along the lash lines.

Lips: Lipstick in shade ‘Smooch’ together with lip liner ‘Spice’ is used on her lips.

Blush: Shade ‘Daydreams’ is used across the cheeks.

Hair: The hair is parted on to the left and smooth combed at the forehead. It is dived into six portions at the nape of the neck. Each portion is pony tailed and looped to create individual buns. Hairspray is sprayed on to keep it in place.

colors LOOK

the INTERVIEW

PE YA Peya is living the life that many girls would kill for. After enjoying a remarkable presence on the ramp, she tried her luck in films and succeeded. With contracts from international modelling agencies pouring in, the girl is now ready to expand her horizons: a career in law as a barrister is her latest adventure. Balanced, peaceloving and confident than ever before, Jannatul Ferdous Peya shares with Colors how she is trying to have it all in life through carefully calculated risks, hard work and patience.

COLORSNYC.COM – 70

W

When Peya joined the modelling industry of Bangladesh, the designers, photographers, and editors were all in a dilemma. It was her height that puzzled everyone: how to make the best use of her long legs; how to showcase her strong look on the ramp; how to fit her into the existing culture that was promoting (and still does) beauty as a mere delicate instrument of the fashion industry.

‘There were occasions when the photographer had to change his entire lighting set up for me as I was taller than most other models he was working with in that particular assignment,’ Peya chuckled while recalling memories of her early days in the industry.

Being a fashion enthusiast, Peya was fascinated seeing the girls sashaying down glitzy ramps on fashion TV. ‘I had this intense desire to be like one of them, even though due to my family values and our tradition, I wanted to achieve one goal at a time,’ Peya stated. ‘I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our local models who have paved way for us and the next generation of passionate individuals who seek the same career: their bold moves of breaking barriers and social stigma is commendable.’ The girl has a bold demeanor and professionalism was a breath of fresh air for the magazines, billboard and advertisers of that

time. Not surprisingly, she was quick to win thousands of hearts.

Nevertheless, Peya wanted to achieve more in life. She wanted to go beyond borders and to set new standards. What she took was calculated risks. The results of those risks, however, are known to all. She won the ‘Miss Bangladesh’ title in 2007. In 2011, she bagged the title of ‘Miss World University,’ representing Bangladesh in a number of modeling and fashion contests around the world. Of those, the ‘Indian Princess International’, ‘World Top Model’ in Egypt- are a few where her presence turned numerous heads.

When she appeared in a bikini in the Fashion contest in Egypt it also happened to raise the eyebrows of many.

The lukewarm response, however, could not stop the girl from her testing new waters. ‘‘Chorabali’ was an experiment I wanted to do with myself. I didn’t have any previous experience of working in any film or television drama before. Yet, what lured me to act in it was the opportunity to work with so many talented actors like Joya Ahsan, Sahiduzzaman Selim, Indranil among others. I was sure that sharing screens with them would certainly help me learn a few things about acting that probably any coaching on acting could ever offer.’

Peya’s role as a model in the film received kudos and soon she was flooded with numerous offers, most of which she humbly turned down. ‘A number of journalists kept asking me every now and then COLORSNYC.COM – 72

about why I wasn’t signing any new films or working on the ramp, which in a way could be frustrating as the tone they use is often intimidating. I just didn’t want to get carried away.’

Peya sounds unorthodox as many of her contemporaries are passing quite busy days with a number of assignments at a time. Working with Jay Agency from Slovakia and Mascot Model Management in New Delhi instilled in her more professionalism and cemented her position in the international media.

Right now Peya is waiting to sit for her LLB examination in pursuit of becoming a lawyer.

‘So, do you intend to practice?’

‘Of course I do. I would like to materialize my dream of working in the legal profession. In fact, my ultimate goal is to become a politician and do something constructive for the country,’ Peay beams with aspiration.

A Barack Obama fan, Peya believes that with the help of politics, it’s easy for a person to raise his or her voice against social stigma and injustice. This is how we understand why it was possible for her to go places at such a young age. ‘I think my relentless pursuit of seeking balance between work and life; love and aspiration and above all utmost cooperation from my near and dear ones have helped me come this far,’ she adds.

The lights were ready for the shoot. As soon as the call came from the photographer, Peya stood up and was instantly ready to begin. This Peya, however, looked completely different from the one we were just chatting with. Looking radiantly elegant, she started doing what she does best in front of camera: striking a magnificent pose!

W

When Peya joined the modelling industry of Bangladesh, the designers, photographers, and editors were all in a dilemma. It was her height that puzzled everyone: how to make the best use of her long legs; how to showcase her strong look on the ramp; how to fit her into the existing culture that was promoting (and still does) beauty as a mere delicate instrument of the fashion industry.

‘There were occasions when the photographer had to change his entire lighting set up for me as I was taller than most other models he was working with in that particular assignment,’ Peya chuckled while recalling memories of her early days in the industry.

Being a fashion enthusiast, Peya was fascinated seeing the girls sashaying down glitzy ramps on fashion TV. ‘I had this intense desire to be like one of them, even though due to my family values and our tradition, I wanted to achieve one goal at a time,’ Peya stated. ‘I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our local models who have paved way for us and the next generation of passionate individuals who seek the same career: their bold moves of breaking barriers and social stigma is commendable.’ The girl has a bold demeanor and professionalism was a breath of fresh air for the magazines, billboard and advertisers of that

time. Not surprisingly, she was quick to win thousands of hearts.

Nevertheless, Peya wanted to achieve more in life. She wanted to go beyond borders and to set new standards. What she took was calculated risks. The results of those risks, however, are known to all. She won the ‘Miss Bangladesh’ title in 2007. In 2011, she bagged the title of ‘Miss World University,’ representing Bangladesh in a number of modeling and fashion contests around the world. Of those, the ‘Indian Princess International’, ‘World Top Model’ in Egypt- are a few where her presence turned numerous heads.

When she appeared in a bikini in the Fashion contest in Egypt it also happened to raise the eyebrows of many.

The lukewarm response, however, could not stop the girl from her testing new waters. ‘‘Chorabali’ was an experiment I wanted to do with myself. I didn’t have any previous experience of working in any film or television drama before. Yet, what lured me to act in it was the opportunity to work with so many talented actors like Joya Ahsan, Sahiduzzaman Selim, Indranil among others. I was sure that sharing screens with them would certainly help me learn a few things about acting that probably any coaching on acting could ever offer.’

Peya’s role as a model in the film received kudos and soon she was flooded with numerous offers, most of which she humbly turned down. ‘A number of journalists kept asking me every now and then COLORSNYC.COM – 72

about why I wasn’t signing any new films or working on the ramp, which in a way could be frustrating as the tone they use is often intimidating. I just didn’t want to get carried away.’

Peya sounds unorthodox as many of her contemporaries are passing quite busy days with a number of assignments at a time. Working with Jay Agency from Slovakia and Mascot Model Management in New Delhi instilled in her more professionalism and cemented her position in the international media.

Right now Peya is waiting to sit for her LLB examination in pursuit of becoming a lawyer.

‘So, do you intend to practice?’

‘Of course I do. I would like to materialize my dream of working in the legal profession. In fact, my ultimate goal is to become a politician and do something constructive for the country,’ Peay beams with aspiration.

A Barack Obama fan, Peya believes that with the help of politics, it’s easy for a person to raise his or her voice against social stigma and injustice. This is how we understand why it was possible for her to go places at such a young age. ‘I think my relentless pursuit of seeking balance between work and life; love and aspiration and above all utmost cooperation from my near and dear ones have helped me come this far,’ she adds.

The lights were ready for the shoot. As soon as the call came from the photographer, Peya stood up and was instantly ready to begin. This Peya, however, looked completely different from the one we were just chatting with. Looking radiantly elegant, she started doing what she does best in front of camera: striking a magnificent pose!

Photograph(Above): Hridoy Tanveer

Update P. 76-94

the CULTURE

Melting Pot Independence Museum

Brimming with so many events, Dhaka is the new destination for South-Asian culturaties

International Theater Festival

Bangladesh in Frames-7: A TTL Photo festival COLORSNYC.COM – 76

A new beginning is always exciting, and it goes without saying that a new year comes with lots of resolutions and promises. People plan events and those who don’t plan any attend the array of events that go on in different places. Sadly, for the people of Bangladesh, the year 2014 and 2015 began with not so jovial headlines on the newspapers, well if you don’t consider a political tumult festivity that is. Political uproar, strikes, petrol bombs and suffering of commoners have marked the beginning of

Pictures from Chobi Mela VIII APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 77

2015 to our utter detriment. Businesses are at standstill, hard to say which sector is suffering more- readymade garments industry, tourism or small and medium entrepreneurship. But it is easy to predict that everyone has their shares of suffering due to the political unrest. However, there has been no stopping for the cultural events and that reconfirms the one thing that the people of Bangladesh are widely known for- unbeatable resilience.

Those who are aware of the art and cultural scenario of Bangladesh will surely agree with me that the political hullabaloo could not stop Dhaka being the cultural hub for South Asian countries. There was barely a person in the city that was untouched by the musical foray of Bengal Classical Music Festival that took place from 27 November, 2014 till 1 December, 2014. The success of the event needs no more vouching as the event premise was filled with people from all walks of lives, even from different countries.

Hay festival, with events in multiple venues, talked about the broadening of the horizon of literature taking inspiration from the rich literary tradition of Bangladesh. The festival took place on 20–22 November 2014 in the historic grounds of the Bangla Academy in Dhaka. Highlights of the event included international and local writers, poets, artists, philosophers and scientists. Earlier in 2014, Dhaka Art Summit also attracted a wide number of local and international audiences making Dhaka the melting pot for artists from all over South Asia.

2015 began with the beautifully captured photographs on the theme of intimacy that were showcased in Chobimela VIII. Known as the South Asia’s largest photography festival, Chobimela is a global platform for photographers to show their culturally inclusive portfolios. International Sufi Music festival also mesmerized the audiences of Dhaka and South Asia with its solo artists and troupes from nine countries of the world. The second Dhaka International Theater Festival that commenced at Bangladesh Shilpokola Academy and attracted people and artists from all walks of lives. By S.N.

By Nusrat Jahan Pritom

2014 was a rocking year in terms of musical events. From Classical Music Fest to South Asian Rock Fest- every genre of music had been explored delightfully in 2014.And the music extravaganza goes on. Here is a sneak peek.

MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA GOES ON

the MUSIC

Bengal Classical Music Fest

South Asian Rock Fest

On October 24, over 30,0 00 people gathered at the Army Stadium to witness South Asia’s most rocking bands. There were 9 bands from 5 countries on one platform. “This is the most massive crowd I have ever seen anywhere for a rock gig,” said the Sri Lankan band Stigmata who performed that day. There were our favourites Aurthohin, Nemesis, Shunno, Arbovirus and Warfaze from Bangladesh, The Colour Compound from India, Kaya from Pakistan and Albatross from Nepal were also present. All the bands were rocking and electrifying.

Aurthohin came back after a long time through this gig. In this Rockfest, South Asian metal bands not only performed and had a great time, but it was also like an exchange of rock culture.

The Bengal Classical Music Fest always keeps us mesmerized every year and last year, it was nothing different. It began on November 27 and brought some of the world’s biggest maestros to the music aficionados here in Dhaka.

Around 160 classical maestros from the subcontinent performed here namely Vidushi Kishori Amonkar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, MalavikaSarukkai, Karakudi Mani, Manjusha Patil, Hariprasad Chaurasia,Vidushi Girija Devi, etc. Vishal Krishna, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pandit Shiv Kumar, Pandi Ulhas Kashalkar and many others who were present in the last festivals also performed this time to much of the delight of the audience. Like every year, the event saw thousands of musical enthusiasts this time as well.

COLORSNYC.COM – 78

Warfaze Reunited

The legendary band Warfaze had musically reunited on 2014 with a bash. It was a star studded 30th anniversary of Warfaze on January 30 at the International Convention City Bashundhara. The legacy concert saw many of the renowned past members of Warfaze such as Balam, Romel Ali, Sanjoy, etc taking the stage with the current members of the band. The show began with the track Jibondhara and went on with many of the famous rocking hits like Oshamajik, Jotoduray, Obak Bhalobasha, etc.

Romel Ali said about the event, “The experience was definitely phenomenal. Performing with old friends was amazing and nostalgic.”

Five Minutes With Bappa Mazumder

Sufi Music Fest

The BAMBA Concert

BAMBA (Bangladesh Musical Bands' Association), in association with Jamuna Group, organized a three-day Mega Concert at the Jamuna Future Park from July 31-August 2. The concert, sponsored by telecom operator Robi and participated by 24 member bands of BAMBA, was the biggest of its kind. Performing bands on stage included Renaissance, LRB, Maqsood O Dhaka, Warfaze, Mechanix, Dreek and many more.

For any rock lovers, this concert was nothing less than a rocking dream!

Lalon Festival at Kushtia

Traditional Baul musical instrument makers in Kushtia and adjacent districts of Meherpur, Chuadanga and Jhenidah had gathered on October 20 to revive soul. The mystic songs of Baul king Fakir Lalon Shah reverberated at his den on the occasion of a five-day memorial festival dedicated to the bard at Cheuria in Kushtia. The festival is one of the largest annual congregations of Bauls and devotees of Lalon at his den where around 1.5 lakh Bauls, shai and other devotees from within and outside the country gather. A variety of different musical instruments resound here with the soulful voices namely ektara, dotara, dhol, mandira, banshi, khol, khamak, dung etc

The first ever international Sufi music festival in Bangladesh took place earlier this year. It featured around 15 Sufi maestros and troupes from eight countries namely Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Tunisia, etc. Arnab and friends opened the act of the three day long festival.

The festival also included performances of Pakistani maestro Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Indian artiste Arko Mukherjee, Spanish troupe Zik’R, Danish troupe, Serenas, etc.

Mystic magic was rediscovered in the tranquility of the music at the Sufi Fest which was organized by Blues Communication.

Did You Know?

Bassbaba Sumon is the first musician from Bangladesh to represent our country at NAMM festival.

Renowned musician Shafin Ahmed was born on Valentine’s Day.

Besides being a singer, actor and model, Tahsan is also teaching at a private university.

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 79

• The most embarrassing moment: “ When somebody would call me for dinner and after we ate they would ask me to sing a song! It’s so strange!

People think we are some kind of tape recorder- you just press the switch and we would start singing!”

• Your idol- if there was one: “My father and mother” • Something about yourself or the world, that you would like to change: “Everybody should be straight forward, from the beginning- not hide behind a mask. I hate confrontations from the start. But more than that I hate hypocrisy.”

• Life in four words or sentences: “ 1.Simple (unfortunately we make it complicated) 2. Beautiful 3. Bumpy & 4. It’s an adventure!”

• The factor that keeps you going: “I live for peace. Everybody wants peace at the end of the day. I want that everything is in order.

That is what I wait for, wake up to!”

A

social MEDIA

A friend of mine, who happens to speak fluent sarcasm, exclaimed one fine morning, ‘there’s never a dull moment in Bangladesh!” I happen to think, for the first time in his life, he was not all that sarcastic. We Bangladeshis don’t leave any chance to make a big deal of anything, be that celebration or failure. So when Facebook opened up its territory and Bangladeshi people finally got a chance to be on Facebook, some celebrated it so much that they started making plans to make their living based on it. No, I am not talking about Facebook for business; I am talking about those tiny entrepreneurs who have tiny stores in a village bazar to charge 50 taka for opening a Facebook account.

Oh, let’s not forget that an email address comes complementary with the account that you buy for 50 taka. This strictly Bangladeshi thing inspired me much to delve myself into the other idiosyncrasies that are conducted by our very excited netizens. I would like to take the time and scope to share some of those here:

1.

The Alien Language

I do not know whether the people who started this troll page realized that “Murad Takla” would become such a language revolution when they started it. Truly dedicated to those who want to make it to a point to abbreviate every single thing and that too in very weird and unique spellings, this page is an eye opener for those who prefer conventional spelling patterns and unabbreviated regular language, be that Bengali or English. This page is also a shinning example of the languages that are being used in Facebook in the name of Bengali or English. Now, whether someone who doesn’t know the language properly should be on Facebook or not is a different debate altogether, but this irritating habit of mixing abbreviated form of Bengali and English and some other ‘alien’ language can certainly put you to test your patience.

NOT SO SOCIAL

2.

The Fake Flashy Titles

Those who are mostly interested about gossips are the easy prey to this silly practice Bangladeshis. The procedure is quite simple; the promoter of a page or news uses a fake flashy (often adult and obscene) title with the real story. Once you click on the gossip link, it takes you to a completely different news site/ page, which is mostly about marketing a product or service. This habit of using fake title that often involves celebrities can definitely go away from Facebook, once and for all.

3.

The Irrelevant Viral

Believe me or not, people can go to any height to be on the top of your Facebook newsfeed. But when it happens for an international conglomerate or multinational telecom company, then it certainly worries me. Those brands who posts photos inscribed with silly messages that has nothing to do with the brand temperament

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hardly realize that its not the number of users that count, it’s the number of genuinely engaged users that can contribute to your brand promotion.

4.

Religious Preaching

Simply put, people do not need to preach so much religion on facebook, that too with very illogical images and quotes that almost look like blind, that people of the other countries start to think that we are religious fanatics.

Religion can be preached in designated areas, for example a separate personal or organizational website, leaving the giant social media platform secular.

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strictly Bangladeshi idiosyncrasies on Facebook that should go.

By Sohana Nasrin

5.

The Chronic Event/Page/Group Opener

I have at least three hundred friends on Facebook who like to open an event, page, group every thirty seconds. Okay, I might have exaggerated a little, but there are people who like to bring every cause to the cyberspace. Statistics say that only 3.5% people of Bangladesh use Internet, either via PC or mobile devices. So if you are trying to stand up for a cause with the whole population of the country, Facebook might not be the ideal platform to use.

10 Must-Knows

big APPLE

1.

New York is home to one of the largest Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani populations of the United States. So relax, you’re not alone.

2.

Bangladeshi Americans residing in NYC picked out their top 10 tips for those who are visiting the Big Apple for the first time.

Faria Ahmed took notes

44.

NYC is not far from home. Within the boundaries of this diverse, multi cultural city is a Little Bangladesh in the Queens neighbourhood of Jackson Heights. From desi clothing and jewelry, to Bollywood films, all-Asian cuisine and even an annual Boishakhi Mela… you can pretty much get it all right here.

This is the one place where pitha, gur, paan and paanta are not unheard of.

3.

About NYC!

To have a traditional home cooked meal, you can drop by at the Bonoful Fish Market, Haat Bajar and Dhaka Sweets at Jamaica for some fresh desi groceries or simply enjoy your meal at one of the Bangladeshi owned restaurants there like Sagar.

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For those who grew up watching How-I-Met-YourMother on Star World back home, there should be nothing more nostalgic than visiting the Empire State building. The hundred-and-two story skyscraper, among some of the tallest towers in the world is sure to take your breath away.

And remind you why Ted was so obsessed with it, of course.

6.

Since one can never get enough of good things like chocolate, the Chocolate Bar, restaurant and shop called Max Brenner should be on your must-do list.

Everything starting from the music, interior design, menu and beverages- all are inspired by chocolate!

5. 7.

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan is the world's most visited tourist attractions, drawing over 39 million visitors annually, the Times Square.

You can actually get close to the most stone-hearted and beautiful woman in the world, the Statue of Liberty by booking seats on one of the cruise boats.

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 81

8.

Most importantly, every now and then you will bump into someone from your south-Asian community, and these are the people with the most amazing life stories to share. On 150 2nd St in The East Village, one such Dhakaiite has opened ‘99cents a Slice’, a new pizza venture after years of working as a taxi cab driver in NYC.

9.

NYC was once of the first cities to offer free Wi-Fi in public meeting areas. Being from the sub-continent, there is nothing better than freebies.

Spend some leisure time at Bryant Park, the tip of Battery Park, or at Lincoln Center Plaza and enjoy that free browsing and sharing!

10.

Before you hit the sack at the end of a tiresome day, you must browse through channels like TBN24 TV, one of the first Bangla channels in North America that focuses on the voice of Non Resident Bangladeshis. Based in New York, it was established in 2012 and has proven to be the fastest growing Bangla TV channels in the region, highlighted news, entertainment, and issues important to Bangladeshi and Bengalis worldwide.

young ACHIEVER In a candid interview with COLORS, the immensely popular wedding photographer shares his recipe for success

THE PERKS OF BEING PRITO REZA

P

Prito Reza is a restless soul. Tall and handsome, this energetic guy loves to talk and uses words that will surely turn heads, if not mesmerize you. With an academic background in Management studies, he chose to become a photojournalist, which raised eyebrows.

Prito didn’t have time to care about their preaching. He was focused and knew where he wanted to go. The naysayers can eat their words. A guy in his 30s, Prito has gone to places. What makes him stand out among his peers is his zeal to excel and establish wedding photography as an industry. But becoming Prito wasn’t a cakewalk.

There were days when he had to work for 18 hours at a stretch. He still works long hours, reads a lot about mastering the art of photography and above all, tries to remain true to his trade.

On going beyond borders

Prito just finished a wedding shoot at Virginia. The experience was interesting and much easier to cope with. It was always his dream to go beyond border. He believes many of our photographers are qualified to tackle international assignments and they should dream big too!

On Local Vs International Clients

Wedding in the west are organized. A full itinerary of the whole event is given to the photographer, which enables him

or her to show his best work in a planned way. Whereas in Bangladesh every wedding is a sweet mess! Starting from the organizers to the guests everyone is in a hurry and almost everyone wants to take pictures with the bride and groom. This is why it is tough for a photographer to capture along the nice moments in a wedding.

On the wedding photography industry

From mere cameraman, to today’s wedding photographers, the journey was tough. Good thing is more educated young people are taking it up as professions, which is why clients are taking the whole matter seriously. Good photographers are providing value for money. On the flip side, some people just do it for fun or some extra cash; who according to Prito are not adequately professionals. Due to them, sometimes generalized questions are being raised about the professionalism of the whole wedding photographer community.

On dreaming big

It was a big challenge for him to expand the business. He wanted to turn the enterprise into a big one. Seeing job could have been easier but Prito took the tougher path and ended up creating jobs of more than 30 people. His company, Wedding Diary has a team of COLORSNYC.COM – 82

photographer, cinematographer, thematic and floral designer and event management experts .

On motivating the youth

His sole purpose is to motivate young photographers to take the profession seriously. One cannot become a good photographer is one is not a good human being.

Besides, young people from middle and lower middle class families face a lot of negativism.

Instilling hope in them is very important.

On how to become Prito Reza

Two must haves are honesty and dedication. One has to study hard to know about the latest techniques. Last but not least, one has to take this profession seriously and give one’s fullest will enable him or her to rise above the rest.

colors EVENT

Pohela Boishakh in New York

Monija Rahman explains why every Bangladeshi carries the spirit of Pohela Boishakh wherever they go Photographs by Neher Siddique Personally, I am an admirer art and culture of every nation; yet there are certain issues in Bangladeshi culture that make my heart swell with pride, I feel like screaming at the top of my voice to claim superiority. Pohela Boishakh, the eve of celebrating Bengali New Year is one such aspect of my culture that is amazing from various aspects.

It was Dania and Pedro to whom I was describing what Pohela Boishakh is all about. The enthusiasm in my voice was quiet palpable. It was so contagious that both of them kept on listening to my overzealous description of the gala event. “So, you guys must have seen sarees; this is a staple of Pohela Boishakh attire. Every girl adorns herself with six-yard long fabric having a beautiful ensemble of red and white color. The whole nation celebrates the day with various cultural activities. Special menus are prepared to treat our taste buds...pantaa bhaat and ilish vaja...”, I took a pause as I wasn’t very sure how to describe what a pantaa bhaat is.

Dania is from Trinidad and Pedro from Mexico.

Both of them are in their early 20s and work at a nearby grocery at Jackson Heights where I have been living for many years. Blame it on the amiable nature of Bangladeshis, it wasn’t tough for me to make friends with them after brief meetings at the shop every now and then. On top of that, who doesn’t know about the hospitable nature of ours? Being a proud daughter of the generous dravidian race, I gleefully invited them for the celebration of Pohela Boishakh around the neighborhood.

Anyone who has an opportunity to travel by launch or steamer in Bangladesh must have come across a slogan showcased in the terminals: ei elakar mati/omuk vaiyer ghati. Though it is impossible for

any foreigner to fathom the spirit behind the slogan, yet for our English speaking readers, the line would be something like this: The soil of this area belongs to Brother XYZ. If one notices carefully, he or she will find that calling a leader/representative of a constituency brother shows how closely we feel for the particular political party or how much we would like to depend on the person for the betterment of the area that we consider them our brother! Having lived in New York for so many years, it has been occurring to me for quiet sometimes that New York slowly is becoming a base of Bengalis. For this, it is only normal that the city will witness a wonderful celebration of Pohela Boishakh arranged by the Bangladeshi diaspora.

Who would have thought that the tradition of celebrating the biggest cultural festival of Bangladesh even across the Atlantic? As soon as the clock hits 12.00 am, the festivity begins. With singing and dancing, along with eating pantaa bhaat and ilish vajaa (soaked white rice and Hilsha fried), we welcomes the new Bengali year. The dawn comes with much more enjoyment. The daylong peetha (hand-made cakes) festival is something everyone looks forward to. Taste buds satiated with burgers and doughnuts around year get elated at the kick offered by all those sweet and spicy peethas.

Every Bangladeshi household and office in New York makes arrangements of Pohela Boishakh delicacies to welcome the guests. And to do so, the preparation starts from three months ago. Those who cannot attend the festivity due to hectic schedules, try to attend events during weekend.

Surprisingly, sometimes celebrating Boishakh goes on up to two months in the form of cultural functions, fairs, etc.

Nevertheless, in the beginning the celebration was not this grand. Nargis Ahmed, a renowned Bangladeshi cultural exponent settled in New York shared her experience with me: I came

to New York in 1991. There wasn’t many Bengalis living here at that time. It was beyond imagination for the diaspora to celebrate Pohela Boishakh. On behalf of the drama circle, I was the first person to organize a celebration event at my House at Jamaica. Since it was a house, I could invite only 89-90 people. Those who were not invited took it to heart and therefore, the next year, we organized the event at the Country Club; after that in the Dhaka Club, which is now known as Gulshan Terrace Club.

This year we are going to celebrate Pohela Boishakh in a grand way. We

will leave no stone unturned to ensure that everyone enjoys to the fullest.

Lutfunnahar Lata, another renowned actor who has been living in New York for many years seconds Nargis.

“With every passing year, the fervor among Bangladeshi diaspora to celebrate Pohela Boishakh is on the rise. This year it is special for me since it will be my first Pohela Boishakh with my husband Marc Weinberg,”

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 85

Lata beams with sheer enthusiasm.

She is very keen to introduce her husband to the festivities of Pohela Boishakh. According to her plan, Marc is going to wear a while Punjabi, while Lata will adorn herself with a white-red shari. She is such a fan of these two colors that even on her wedding day, she wore a benaroshi shari of the same color.

However, we are having many celebratory events, however, some of those lack good quality. There are also questions about stalls set up by Indians and Pakistanis in these fairs.

Nevertheless, these events and fairs have not only proved to be profitable for the Bangladeshi organizers; but also has made significant contribution to the economy of Bangladesh. Besides, it’s not possible for everyone to attend the events due to busy schedule. But it is certain that everyone from the Bangladeshi diaspora is carrying the very essence of this celebration their heart. Selina Khan, a mother of two has been living in Jackson Heights for 18 years.

Though it’s not possible for her to attend the events on the 14th April due to the tests her children having, she is going to organize a get-together at her place on the 17th April. Nasrin Akter, another Bangladeshi living at Elmhurst says, “We do everything keeping in mind our culture and heritage.

Schools here don’t teach about Bangladeshi traditions. It’s our sole responsibility to make sure that our children learn about these valuable traditions.

Pohela Boishakh is an indispensable adjunct in the life of every Bangladeshi, no matter where they go or how they live. I could not agree more when Lata says, “They will carry it in their heart”! I strongly believe as time goes by, we the Bangladeshis living on this side of Hudson river in the city known as the capital of the world, will celebrate the event with much fanfare to express solidarity with our rich tradition and heritage.

the platinum MAN

Profile:

It was our long cherished desire to establish a bank for economic development of our motherland with the help of Bangladeshi Expatriates in different countries of the world.

Engr. Farasath Ali

Chairman, NRB Commercial Bank COLORSNYC.COM – 86

Engr. Farasath Ali, a Bangladeshi born, valiant and proud freedom fighter and member of a martyred family of 1971, is an US citizen. He is a Textile Technologist by profession having Masters in Science from The University of LEEDS, UK. Born in 1955, he bravely fought in the liberation war of Bangladesh. Being a very highly motivated, creative and successful entrepreneur, having 20 years of experience as a research and development technologist in the field of textile, he has a very strong socio-political and socio-economic background.

Engr. Ali heads SNA Knitting Mills INC. in the USA, a knitwear unit, as its president. He is involved in different social activities in the USA and has contributed significantly in the welfare of the NRBs living in the USA, and thus in the process he has engaged himself towards making contribution to the growth of his motherland in many fronts culminating in his endeavor to spearheading this NRB Commercial Bank Limited (proposed).

Mr. Ali lives in New York, USA with his wife Dr. Shahanara Ali, a physician, and two children, Sarwar N. Ali and Tasnia S. Tussy. Dr. Shanara Ali is also a Sponsor of the proposed NRB Commercial Bank Limited. In 2013, he in association with some non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) entrepreneurs has established NRB Commercial Bank Limited, an specialized bank that offers SME or business loans among general banking products.

NRBC Bank, maximum sponsor directors of which are expatriates based in New York, is playing a leading role in supporting the expatriates sending home money.

What is the USP of NRB Commercial bank?

What was the reason behind setting up a specialized bank for Non-resident Bangladeshis?

It was our long cherished desire to establish a bank for economic development of our motherland with the help of Bangladeshi Expatriates in different countries of the world. It is regardless to mention that many NRBs of developed countries have well education and professional expertise in different fields who are potential resources for our country.

Funds of many NRBs living in various regions of the world are either held in idle form or invested with less remunerative return. Inward remittance of the NRBs is being invested in unproductive sector as well. While creation of employment is a crying need of the country, many NRBs are eagerly looking for investment in Bangladesh for economic development of the motherland. These NRBs can not only bring huge investable fund but also “state of the art technology” for building up a world standard Bank tailored towards meeting local developmental needs of the country.

Keeping all these in mind, I, along with some of the renowned NRBs, established NRB Commercial Bank Limited to become a first-class bank in terms of providing efficient & innovative banking services, safeguarding depositor’s interest, fulfilling shareholders desire, supporting economic growth of the country. I would like to express my gratefulness to our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for realizing the vision behind this bank. Without her, setting up a bank like this would not have been possible.

The USP lies in the name of the Bank: it is for the NRBs, by the NRBs, of the NRBs. The Bank has a particular attention to channelize regular inflow of foreign remittance of Bangladeshi expatriates working abroad and the inflow of idle and less remunerative fund held with wealthy NRBs.

Could you please elaborate how your bank is planning to attract investment from the NRBs?

The bank shall devote in creating confidence for investment among the Bangladeshi expatriates offering them desired services, attractive profitability and secured investment through various financial products.

As the bank shall collect significant amount of deposits from NRBs, it will be a part of strategy of the bank to allocate investment from the loanable fund to the customer/borrower who are able to earn foreign currency, so that NRBs can be satisfied with good return.

Any particular sector where NRBC will encourage more investment?

In allocating investment of fund, in addition to usual sectors of investment Green banking, SME and Agriculture sector shall be given due importance. NRBC bank’s strategy shall be “supply-leading” rather than “demand following”, and “Financial Inclusion” rather than financial exclusiveness (to support only a group of urban customers) and its portfolio mix will reflect development strategy of the country. The bank shall be the forerunner in exploiting new sources of fund such as assets securitization, issuance of mutual fund etc., for addressing the needs of newly emerged financing areas like SME

APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 87

financing, factoring, micro finance, IT based products, housing financing etc. with a view to furthering the economic growth of the country.

You have permission to conduct Agent banking.

Could you please tell something about this to our readers?

Agent banking is an innovative way to reach out to many unbanked people living in the rural outset. They have every right to receive all sorts of banking services like the people living in the urban set up. This will also encourage many small and middle entrepreneurs to start business in rural areas. The government also believes in the same and we are fortunate and privileged to be the first bank to receive the affirmatives from the central bank for agent banking.

This will enable us to render our services where there is no NRBC Bank branch. We will team up with other banks’ to make our services available at the union level. On behalf of the banks, the agents can transact cash, distribute remittance, gather information for bank accounts, accept loan applications, transact and recover loans and receive applications for credit and debit cards. We are on the right track to finish preparation to start fully functioning agent banking soon.

What’s your take on the current economic condition of the country?

Bangladesh has shown remarkable success in economy which is shown in the GDP rate in last couple of years.

With the help of hard working people, we have managed to achieve this success. Also, I would like to thankful to our Prime Minister for paving Bangladesh towards net trajectory of growth and prosperity.

We must all work hard to make Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2020. NRBC Bank will do its best to help Bangladesh achieve it.

Remembering 2014 marked the birth centenary of the Shilpacharya

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2 1

A few of Abedin’s Creations 1. Durvikkho 2. Santali Meye 3. Moi Deyaa 4. Chotushtoy

art

the Maestro Born on December 29, 1914 in a village in Kishoreganj, Zainul Abedin grew up to be the most important and famous painter of Bangladesh.

He had earned considerable fame during the early 40s for his famine series. Those world-famous paintings on famine and poverty were a milestone in the career of the soft-spoken artist whose humble qualities and admiring features of compassion, self-sacrifice and sincerity are worth following for any artist. A well-known figure for his leadership qualities in organizing artists and art movements, Abedin took the initiative to found the Government Institute of Arts and Crafts (now Faculty of Fine Arts) in 1948 at Dhaka University campus, of which he was the founding Principal.

This institute trained and nurtured an entire generation of artists who portrayed the changing times on their canvases. Qamrul Hassan, Aminul Islam, Hamidur Rahman, Khaled Chowdhury, Imdad Hossain, Rashid Choudhury, Qayyum Chowdhury and Murtaja Basheer were direct disciples of Zainul Abedin. This was the generation that depicted the changing social reality in their art.

The painter was involved in the Liberation War of our country and was in the forefront of the cultural movement to re-establish the Bengali identity in the 60s. In 1975, Zainul Abedin set up a folk museum at Sonargaon, and a permanent gallery in Mymensingh (Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala) to display some of his works. He became actively involved in a movement to preserve the cultural heritage of Bengal. Abedin died in 1976 in Dhaka.

December 29 marked the 100th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin (1914-1976), the leading figure in the history of modern art movement in Bangladesh.

boishakhi DELIGHTS

Rajib Hasan,

Executive Sous Chef of Dhaka Regency Hotel & Resort

shares the recipes of some Pohela Boishakh staples.

Photographs from the Chef.

Shorshey Ilish

Ingredients: 7-8 pieces of hilsa fish 1 1/2 tablespoons of mustard paste very finely ground 1/2 tablespoon turmeric paste 1/2 teaspoon chili paste 100 grams of mustard oil 4-5 banana leaves, halved 4-5 green chilies, washed and slit Method : 1. Place the fish in a flat bowl. Add all the ingredients and salt, to taste; marinade the fish properly and keep it for half an hour.

2. Add mustard oil and green chilis to fish and wrap with Bananaleaves.

3. Steam the pieces of fish wrapped in Banan leaves for five minustes each side. Shorshey Ilish is ready to serve hot with rice.

Aloo Bhorta Ingredients 4-5 potatoes 2-3 red chilis 03 ml of mustard oil, pinch of mustard seed 20 gm oof nion, sliced 05 ml of ghee A few coriander leaves Salt, to taste Method: 1. Bake the potatoes with the skin in normal stove around 1 hour or you can boil them.

2. Peel out the skin of the potatoes.

3. In a pan heat up 2 table spoon of mustard oil, add mustard seeds and red chilies. This is just the seasoning.

4. Add the seasoning to the peeled potatoes, add salt, chopped coriander leaf, and smash them to a smooth paste.

5. Aloo bartha is ready to be served with steamed rice.

Drip a tablespoon of ghee to make it more delicious!

Daal Bhorta

Deam Bhorta Ingredients : 03 Eggs 03 gm of dry chili 20 gm of onion, sliced 05 gm of coriander leaf 03 ml of mustard oil Salt, to taste

Ingredients: 1/2 cup of Moshur dal 1 big onion, sliced 3 dry red chilis 1 tablespoon of mustard oil Salt, to taste

Method: 1. Boil the dal until the water dries up and the dal becomes soft. Set aside for cooling.

2. Use a sheel pata to make a paste of the dal when it has cooled down.

3. Meanwhile, toast the dry red chilis on a tawa until the they turn dark.

Method: 4.

On a bowl, mix the toasted dry red 1. Boil eggs for 15-20 minutes. chilis, onion slices and mustard oil 2. Peel shell off, then mash the egg properly. properly.

Mix with the pasted daal 3. Add all the ingredients and mix well. and your bhorta is ready to serve.

4. Enjoy with steamed rice.

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the big QUESTION

Why Are We Still So Obsessed With Old Dhaka Foods?

Dhaka's traditional dining still has a lot to offer and is surely a matter of pride, says Saleh Rabbi Jyoti

Photograph: Syed Ayon

Dhaka has undoubtedly become a city infested with foodies! Thanks to social media, which allowed people to show off where they have been and what they have devoured. Their footprints are etched in the form of check-ins, likes, hashtags. Oh! There are reviews, many of which are, however, juvenile and should not be heeded to. What makes it worse are the reviews-nothing but puff piecesare written by over enthused self-professed foodies having less knowledge about flavors, actual taste of food and cuisine. It’s cool to write a review, and even cooler to post a photo, kudos goes to their smartphones.

Restaurants, cafes, lounges-everyone

wants to reap the benefit of this technology-backed upheaval of the food scene with offerings like burger, sandwich, salad, burritos, fajitas, fish and chips and what not. I myself have been to couple of these trendy food places but to be honest, the foodie in me still craves for the authentic Dhaka cuisine. Yes, you got it right: I am talking about Old Dhaka foods, the kacchish, the nannas and naans!

And, I bet there are many who would agree with me on the point that: old is gold!

So, what makes those rich foods so unique that up-to-the-minute nibbles are failing to nab the niche? Simply put, they are mouthwatering and COLORSNYC.COM – 92

carry the legacy of great chefs who used to cook for Nawabs and Zamindars of Dhaka, the city that is 400 years old. They still prepare their mouthwatering specials with much zeal and passion. For anyone who has an opportunity to taste the butter naan with gelassy (mutton gravy) or nehari (spicy soup of ankle of cattle) preferably at Star Restaurant in Thatari Bazar Al-Razzaque at Gulistan, is sure to meet have enjoyed satiety in true sense! A plateful of mutton boti kebab from Bismillah or chaap from Mustaqim can make your evening! Steaks are good but can it beat the sexy and dark avatar of Kalabhuna, a beef recipe that uses back needs to stir fry the meat? The richness of all these foods lies in their authentic recipes with unique blend of spices. Good news is owners of these authentic food businesses also realized the potential of a buoyant gourmet class since chefs as brilliant as Haji’s and Star Kabab are opening new branches. Smart indeed, they are not denying the wave of relentless trendiness that is trying its best to outshine the traditional dining scene.

To adapt with the young section of foodies, they are not only providing food nowadays; they are offering a place to sit and chat (i.e. Haji in Bashundhara and Star in Elephant Road). Thus, with more and more restaurants opening to feed the old-Dhaka food lovers, it is justified to say that the traditional dining will keep amusing the taste buds of new and old foodies alike, for days to come!

colors FOCUS

BECOMING

Boishakh

Festivals are common to all societies and cultures and they vary just like their characteristics, yet some festivals are so deeply rooted in the social organism that they continue to entertain from generation to generation. Some of the festivals becomes the identity of a nation. Some have the stamp of religion while others bear the impression of politics. The festivals, which got started in the primitive society centering on the prayer for food, have now been filled with various colors and varieties.

At the foundation of festivals are ritual and most of the ancient rituals were collective activities. Many of the rituals were related to agriculture and were determined by lunar months. The ancient rituals

Photographs: Internet

were magical processes to tame supernatural power; in the subsequent cultures, this characteristic feature was retained. As history suggests, many of the agro-based ancient festivals lost their spontaneity with the passing of time and became more formal.

Although most of the festivals were related to religions, these did not evolve on account of religions - they originated spontaneously in the society. Later on, they assumed more formal character. For example, not very long ago, singing was a part of the Eid festival of the Muslims of Bengal, which was an expression of spontaneity. But now it is not there.

Nowaday these festivals have become different: new social dimensions have been added to them; they have become occasions of mutual exchange of pleasantries among friends and relatives.

If one looks at the cultural history of India, it’s hard to ignore the festival of Nowruz: The spring festival of Persia and central Asia which marks the start of spring of the start of Persian New Year. For more than thousand years Nowruz was an official festival of the imperial courts in Dehli and Agra.

Later it enjoyed the support of the princely states like Awadh and Hyderabad. Most Indians may remember K.Asif’s epic Moghul e Azam, which shows Jashen-e-Nowruz of Moghul court.

Nowruz was not just a fashion of Muslim elites of India, rather it had a multi-dimensional character. After the Arab-muslim conquest of Persia, the festival of Nowruz became the symbol

Making of the Subcontinent’s Own New Year’s Eve of a cultural resistance against Arabization and Arab imperialism.

The resistance movements in the conquered and converted lands of Arab empire took shape of an “alternative” understanding of Islam, one which was radically different from vision of the clerics. The converted people looked towards their traditional philosophies, mythologies and cultural semiotics to understand Islam. In this environment Nowruz, the ancient festival of Persia was re-invented by the Shia and Sufi theologians as a potent symbol of resistance against Arab cultural invasion as well as against the rigid and loyalist Islam. Nowruz played a significant impact on Mughal culture and thus opted in our society.

I

In today’s Bengal, most prominent festival, which is not related to religion - is Bengali New Year’s day. It is observed with great enthusiasm on the first day of Boisakh of the Bengali calendar. Its main characteristic feature is that it is a social festival and its appeal is universal. Such a festival, which is not based on religion but still universal, is rare in the world. As Dr. Enamul Huq visualizes this universality in the collected prayer for rain when men and women long for the clouds in the very beginning of the long hot summer. He writes-"Praying to the clouds for water is another popular ritual of the Bengali New Year."

During the last four hundred years that is after the introduction of the Bengali year by Akbar many festivals connected with agriculture and seasons have become associated with it. As time passed by, many related matters have been added to this New Year’s Day. Some of these are now extinct, some are on the verge of extinction and a few are still in vogue in certain areas. A function that is on the verge of extinction is Punya. Its origin is not exactly known. However, it was practised till the abolition of the permanent settlement. On this day, the tenants would wear their available good clothes and go to the kachhari of the zamindar to pay rents and also some extra amounts as a mark of respect to the landlord. And the first of Baisakh gradually changed in this way to become the New Year. To the special features of the Bengali New Year that Enamul Huq has mentioned, we can add here that the Bengali New Year saw the addition of a new political dimension from the 60's of the present century. No season in any other country has such a political aspect. Celebration of the first day of Boisakh began as a part of the cultural movement and it added a new dimension to the political movements. During the regime of Ayub Khan in the late 60s, when attack was made against Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore Song) and the Bengali culture, the Chhayanaut group organized a program of Rabindra sangeet on the first of Boisakh under the banyan tree at Ramna to celebrate the New Year. It was a protest against the religious fundamentalism. This endeavor by Chhayanaut gradually became popular and in the perspective of the freedom movement the Bengali New Year was celebrated in a grand way as a protest against the ideology of the ruling class. After the independence of Bangladesh, the Bengali New Year was declared as public holiday. Thus with the celebration of the New Year at the grass-root level was added the endeavor of the urban people. However, the common man still refers to the Bengali calendar of his day to day activities and the city-dwellers to the Julian calendar. In this context, Shamsuzzaman Khan has rightly remarked that Akbar had once started the pan-Indian Islamic year as well as the Bengali year. "The introduction of Bengali year had not only survived but at one time had also given the unique power of nationalistic feelings and pride to the separated and divided mainly joint Bengali society."

The most important function of Boisakh is the fair. The New Year fairs of our country are also nothing but the changed forms of the oldest 'seasonal festivals' and 'agricultural festivals' of Bangladesh. This is because local agricultural products and handicrafts are sold in these fairs even today. According to a survey, about two hundred fairs are organized throughout Bangladesh on the first day and the first week of Boisakh.

The calendar so introduced was originally known as Tarikh-e-Elahi and it was introduced on the 10th or the 11th March in the 29th year of Akbar's reign i.e. in 1585 A. D. It, however, dates from the day of Akbar's ascension to the throne of Delhi and commemorates his coronation as the Emperor of India in 1556. The Second Battle of Panipath and the Coronation of Akbar as the Emperor of India are indeed great events in the annals of history. The Moguls had nearly lost the throne of Delhi for good. Akbar was not even an adult when the life of Humayun was suddenly cut short on the stairs of his own library.

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devotees carrying mask in Pohela Boishakh in Kolkata

What is more, the mighty and competent Hindu general Himu, the Commander-in-Chief of Islam Shah, had conquered both Delhi and Agra and declared himself Raj Chakravarty. It seemed that the days of the Great Moghuls were numbered and they would be driven out from the sub-continent forever.

But the brave and indomitable Akbar rose to the occasion and faced the music with courage and conviction. With the able guidance and help of Bairam Khan, Akbar created history by defeating the invincible' army of Himu at the Second Battle of Panipat on the 5th of November, 1556. This was indeed a momentous occasion in the annals of history. It not only re- established the Moghul dynasty on the Indian soil but also ensured its continuation for years to come. As a result, the Moghuls ruled over this sub-continent with glory and greatness for three hundred years more. It was the greatest achievement in Akbar's chequered life and undoubtedly one of the greatest events in the Moghul history. It was to glorify and immortalize the historic event and also to facilitate the collection of revenue during harvest in a more systematic way that Akbar the Great introduced Tarikh-e-Elahi form the 10th of RabiulAwal in 963 A.H. It may be mentioned in this connection that from the very beginning of his reign, Akbar felt the need of introducing a uniform scientific, workable and acceptable system of calculating days and months through a reformed calendar. With this end in view, he commissioned Amir FathullahShirazi, a distinguished scientist and the most famous astronomer of the day, to make a recommendation for the reformed calendar. Abul Fazal, the renowned

“THE CHHAYANAUT GROUP ORGANIZED A PROGRAM OF RABINDRA SANGEET ON THE FIRST OF BOISAKH UNDER THE BANYAN TREE AT RAMNA TO CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR.” scholar and a minister of Akbar the Great, in his scholarly work Akbar Namah, gives details of the events leading to the new era under the Royal Forman of Akbar. Abul Fazal explains that the use of the Hijrah (Hegira) Era was unfair to the peasantry, because 31 lunar years were equal to 30 solar years and the revenue was collected on the basis of lunar years whereas the harvest depended on the solar ones. Abul Fazal was right because the lunar year consists of 354 days and the solar years 365 or 366 days. Thus there is difference of 11 or 12 days between the two systems.

The months of the new Bengali Era (or Tarikh-e-Elahi) were initially known as Karwadin, Ardi, 'Vihisu, Khordad, Teer, Amardad, Shahriar, Aban, Azur, Dai, Baham and IskanderMiz. Nobody knows for sure how and when we started naming the months as Boishakh, Joishtha, etc. It is presumed that these months, based on the names of the stars, were derived from the Shakabda which was introduced in 78 A.D. to commemorate the reign of the Shaka dynasty in this subcontinent.

Some claim inadvertently that the APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 99 75

Bengali calendar was introduced by Shashanka, king of Bengal, to commemorate his conquest of Assam.

But records testify to the fact that Shashanka, son of MahaSengupta, conquered Benaras and moved towards Chilka lake and never towards Assam.

The system of celebrating Nonoborsho or Pohela Boishakh (1st of Boishak) was also introduced by Akbar the Great.

After introducing Tarikh-e-Elahi, he abolished the hitherto practised Muslim festivals and replaced them by 14 new festivals, one of which was Nowruz or the celebration of the New Year's Day. It was the celebration of Nowruz which enabled Prince Selim (later emperor Jehangir) to meet and fall in love with Meherunnisa (known as Nurjahan in history). It was again in one such Nawruz festival that the Prince Khurram (known as the Emperor Shahjahan in history) first came across Mumtaz Mahal, whom he immortalized through the great "poetry in marble" known to the world as Taj Mahal. Had there been no Noboborsho, (or Nowruz) festival, there perhaps would be no Nurjahan, and no Taj Mahal.

Musing P. 102-119

sports

The Great Politicization

Cricket

of

Is Cricket still a

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Gentle Man’s game?

Syed Faiz Ahmed looks for an answer.

COLORSNYC.COM – 102

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“What do they know of cricket who only cricket knows?” The quotation was made by C.L.R James, the legendary Trinidad born writer who is hailed as ‘cricket’s philosopher king’.

Talking about cricket, often we hear an apparently ‘non-political’ motto of ‘never mix cricket with politics’. Well, those simple, saint like words are like hiding a sharp dagger under the cloak of a monk which will assassin you.

This saying is possibly the most highly politicized quote.

None of the sports are beyond politics, they are no longer ‘children’s game’ and international games are not played

for fun, but for national pride, money, politics, so on and so forth.

For Greeks sports used to be the most sacred ritual; sports were so sacred that they used to count their year by saying ‘at the time of this or that Olympiad’. To be victorious at Olympia, situated at the sanctuary of father of Gods, Zeus was the greatest honor in a man’s life. The prize was no more than a simple garland made from springs of wild olive, but what fame for the winners: the greatest poets sang their praises; the greatest sculptors carved their statues to stand forever in Olympia. They were shown APRIL-JUNE 2015 – 103

in their chariots, throwing the discus, or rubbing oil into their bodies before the fight. Victory statues like these can still be seen today.

Things have just changed its forms in 2500 years but like many other things the mindset that Greek people possessed still is the base of our modern mindset and culture.

However, like other aspects of modern life many aspects have been added about sports.

Talking about cricket, it is an imperialistic game borne in England.

The game bore all the features of Victorian fragrance, played with white, clean dresses. Unquestionable power to the authority, the feature that makes it a ‘royal game’ and the people who play are termed as ‘gentlemen’ as they never question the king’s (umpire) verdict.

Another important thing of this game is that this is a collective game consisting of individual performances.

Just like the modern state nation, where individualism is promoted but at the end of the day every personal achievement is praised only when they belong to the collective’s cause.

English imperialists used as a fantastic

sports

tool, initially to distinguish themselves with natives and later carry the fragrance of British flavour and inoculate that in the colonial mind, the hangover did not only persist but it took a new dimension during post-colonial era.

In India, the Maharajas and the zamindars, who were the aides of English, grabbed the opportunity with both hands in order to be acquainted with their colonial lords in their chariots, throwing the discus, and deconstruct their identities that or rubbing oil into their bodies before distinguished with ‘natives’. the fight. Victory statues like these can Many Indian Maharajas did not only still be seen today. endowed themselves with British Things have just changed its forms in education but they were mostly 2500 years but like many other things satisfied to be a part of that society and the mindset that Greek people when Ranjit Singhji played for possessed still is the base of our English national side, they were modern mindset and culture. jubilant although the English However, like other aspects of modern aristocracy treated him as a mere life many aspects have been added ‘black man’ and Lord Harris, a about sports. distinguish man of MCC showed by Talking about cricket, it is an saying ‘a nigger showing us how to imperialistic game borne in England. play the game of cricket’.

The game bore all the features of Things were different in Caribbean; Victorian fragrance, played with the black people who were imported “What do know Unquestionable ofpride, cricket who for fun,clean butthey for national money, white, dresses. from Africa took the game as the only cricket Thethe quotation politics, onknows?” and so forth. power toso the authority, feature apparatus or revolution: used the was Greeks made sports C.L.R For used game’ to James, be the that makes itbya ‘royal andmost the cricket ground to manifest legendary Trinidad writer is sacred sports were so who sacred people ritual; who play born are termed as anti-apartheid movement. As if they hailedthey as ‘cricket’s king’. that used to philosopher count year by ‘gentlemen’ as they nevertheir question the took the leaf out of the book of a Talking saying ‘atabout the cricket, time ofoften this we or hear that king’s (umpire) verdict.

Roman Gladiator. Every time they an apparently ‘non-political’ motto of Olympiad’.

To be at Another important thingvictorious of this game floored their opponents that would ‘never cricket politics’.

Well, Olympia, situated the sanctuary of is thatmixthis is with aat collective game announce their pride as human being those simple, saint likewas words are like father of Gods, Zeus the greatest consisting of individual performances. hidinglike a sharp dagger under thenation, cloak honor in a the man’s life. The prize was no Just modern state of a monk which garland will assassin you. more than a simple made from where individualism is promoted but This is most highly springs of wild olive, but what fame at thesaying end ofpossibly the daythe every personal politicized quote. for the winners: the only greatest achievement is praised whenpoets they None are beyond sang praises; the greatest belongoftheir tothe thesports collective’s cause.politics, they areimperialists no longer ‘children’s game’ sculptors carved theirused statues stand English as a to fantastic APRIL-JUNE 2015 –games 103 and international not shown played forever in Olympia.

Theyarewere

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and agony of being enslaved simultaneously.

Remarkably, the inherent feature of cricket helped them to channelize their wrath into a proper revolution.

Discipline, perseverance, aggression and innovativeness all must be mélange to form a recipe of cricketing success. A young black man of Caribbean matured all these qualities which not only made them successful in cricket ground but also lifted the spirit of their freedom and prestige.

The slef pride and aura of victory transcended through to their social and political life as well. The phenomena can be compared only with the great cultural leap of China.

It was amazing to see a young black man bouncing with fearsome pace to crash the ball into the batsman or an unplayable Yorker to uproot the stumps, making the batman to virtually kneel down and out in both the occasions and by doing that claiming an unprecedented supremacy.

That sensation ignited the crowd, the black people with all the oppression and inequality could feel their supremacy, could pride themselves with tremendous joy and fervor.

During the 70’s we have seen the English cricket ground were filled with black people, enchanting, rejoicing and dancing in the grand

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stands. They were oppressed in other grounds of life but were king in cricket field.

In the Caribbean they flourished themselves with newly found zeal, nourished their culture. Calypso song became another part of their identity and all on a sudden they realized that they do not belong to this world just to be enslaved but they may rule in certain avenues with skill and passion.

Things however, did not remain that much romantic; the capitalistic forces have some other ideas. The burning passion of cricket could be turned into a jingoist one rather than a romantic or revolutionary one. By doing so, not only the revolutionary spirit and flavour will be tormented but also it can create chaos among nations and commodification of cricket would also earn a massive amount of revenues.

The formula was already successful with football. According to famous Latin American writer, political thinker and football lover Eduardo Galeano football became an industry.

Although he firmly believed the words of legendary Scottish coach Bill Shankly, that ‘football is not life, it is more important than that’ and he believes nothing is more charming than the game in a human life.

The same believe however is being possessed by many subcontinent people about the game of cricket and

like football the capitalism used this situation and commodify cricket.

In India, the scenario is interesting and different than Caribbean. Passion, the agony of oppression is the same but the expression is rather different.

The game does not have the romance and eccentricity like that of Caribbean people but rigid nationalism and identity crisis took the centre stage.

Basketball and athletics encroached the West Indies people but the men in east could not have competed in those games for many reasons, lack of ability and geopolitics are to name a few. At the same time football also could not put them into a respectable position even in the Asian arena let alone globally. Interestingly cricket, which was sown by colonial masters could provide them exactly that.

The post-colonial struggle of nation and identity build up took the chance of using the game as ladder to augment the nation’s international status.

Capitalists sniffed the opportunities and poured money and everything for profit. Cricket is established as the symbol of nationalism.

Again in the era of globalization when diaspora issue is getting a critical shape, a formidable tussle between the cultures and pride of host country and origin land is omnipresent, cricket

gave a strong tool to construct a nouvelle diaspora.

The same thing applies for Pakistan, Sri Lanka and also for Bangladesh.

People who live in the Europe, like those Caribbean do not always enjoy the priority in those countries but cricketing success uplift them just like the Caribbean in 70’s.

The problem is cricket could not compete with other sports especially with football to attain the global status, so the pride of cricketing successes unfortunately does not count in countries other than the commonwealth ones.

This now is a real dilemma for the people of sub-continent. Caribbean people only had to prove against their colonial lords but in this globalization era that would not be good enough for a nation to keep up the pride.

There is a situation, disseminate the game and make it a global one, however the inherent character (too lengthy for fast paced modern life) may make it difficult but at the same time the more and more global participation could annihilate the hegemony of the sub continent in the game.

As a result the jingoistic mood of nationalists may not be sustained and cricket will lose its compatibility as a commodity.

Cricket being the second game to

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English (after football) and losing the colour to Aussies and South Africans the status of being a global game is already at stake. Only sub-continent nations are feeding the game and India is the major stake holder.

Unfortunately with that much of hegemony the authority is losing its command. Money mongers are grabbing the game and all sorts of corruptions are inoculated.

So even the credibility of the game is questioned and it is losing its appeal as well. To continue that success in global stage could be only remedy, but again if the illegal means are taken to do so, the game will lose efficacy and charm, both globally as well as locally.

So, cricket is in real jeopardy, the presence of money and profit is inevitable but for doing that if the spirit is killed it will be like the story of that goose which used to lay golden eggs.

However, the passion and elegance of the cricket could still rejuvenate itself, a girl from a remote, poor village of Bangladesh fasts for the whole day when Bangladesh National team takes part. For her, cricket is the only charm in the life which is otherwise a boring one. Indeed cricket is a game, part of politics but let that be revolutionary, let that girl smile after a whole day of fast rather than find herself being cheated.

www.omegawatches.com

# DontCrackUnderPressure

tradition

Wedding rituals of this subcontinent are already at the verge of their extinction.

Shateel Bin Salah argues why we should allow them to have their destined lifecycle

MAKING SENSE OF WEDDING RITUALS The first Bangladeshi wedding I went to was in a village named Badarpur, sometime in the 90's, when weddings would marry two families, two khandans or two villages as opposed to today's much more accepted idea of love marriage. Those were the days of arranged marriage.

COLORSNYC.COM – 108

Going to Badarpur from Dhaka involved vigorously vibrating in sync with a shallow engine run boat for an hour or two. Adult males on the boat haggled with fishermen in the middle of Meghna river, managing to buy some obscenely large fish that were till gasping for oxygen through their gills. Generating big round blotches of sweat on their silk panjabis ( kameez, kurta, same thing), these men bragged about their purchase to anyone who would listen while young boys urinated on to the river for fun and juveniles smoked cheap bidis when no one's watching, girls played Antakshiri- a new game they had learned from Zee TV, middle aged women kept themselves busy opening hot pots of greasy egg rolls, feeding whoever is within their arm's reach, a newly wed bride tried too hard to befriend an infant till it threw up and soiled her red blouse with vomit, baby stomach processed crumbly watery cheese. All of these happened simultaneously in one of the many groups that were on their way to attend a wedding ceremony that I got to witness, sometime in the 90's.

Holding shoes and sandals in hands, lifting trousers and sarees up to their knees, these groups, upon disembarking, made new potholes on old potholes that filled up with brown rain water. Silt covered ankles and faces with water washed cosmetic products gingerly headed towards the wedding venue. Herds of goose and gander looked at us with embarrassment, stretching out their necks to make noises like a broken

shehnai, prelude to the wedding ceremony of some sorts. We slipped and stumbled for over twenty minutes on the waterlogged muddy path, ruining our ironed new clothes before we could reach the wedding gate. It was draped in neon green, magenta and yellow fabrics, standing twenty feet tall against the backdrop of clouds hanging from the gray sky like plump udders of a black cow, soaked up and dripping with icy water.

From a distance we could see a dozen of pointy nippled black umbrellas bobbing under the gate, just a few meters away from the wedding venue. Under the umbrellas waited the close relatives of the bride, holding the gate with a red ribbon knotted on both sides. The groom had to pay a fee to enter the gate. The amount, negotiable. The ritual, not so much.

I was allowed in before the negotiation began because I was a guest from the bride's side, while all the groups from the groom's side, including the groom waited on the other side of the gate. The groom was a tall, broad handsome looking fella with an outstanding nose, the kind of nose which makes you expect a set of very large protruding teeth below it. But I never got to know how his teeth looked as he hid his mouth with a folded handkerchief all the time. It was covered while he talked, smiled, laughed or ate. It was the riwaaj ( custom) those days, and had remained so as far back as my grandparents and their generation could remember. They said it was rude to show your grinning teeth to the family mem-

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bers of your future wife.

Bad manners.

But why? Since when was talking or smiling considered bad manners? These questions where shushed by the senior tier of my family followed by reminders that children of modern times were disobedient and had no respect for the elders. So I never got to know if the groom was hiding his tobacco and betel leaf stained bad teeth or was it because of his bad breath.

Or was there something else? In today's world of dental care revolution, we would never know how it felt to go to your own wedding with betel leaf and tobacco stained degenerating teeth. But grooms from my grandparents time knew perhaps.

Maybe their relatives knew. The riwaaj of hiding groom's mouth had to emerge from some sort of necessity. But we might never know what it was as there is no credible documentation of the real reason.

Handkerchief on the other hand was considered fashionable for decades before Kleenex was invented in 1924 and boasts its strong cultural presence till date. It worked as a good cover for the mouth and the trend kicked off, sustained itself long enough to become a tradition, eventually lost its utility followed by its dwindling appeal, and then the 'riwaaj' became history. These are just my assumptions and not to be taken for facts, no not to be added to wiki either.

But the fact is our next generation may never know that any such 'riwaaj' existed. Just like the next generation of Pakistani youth may not even know

that like the 'Mehendi event' for the brides, the grooms had a 'Taeli event'.

Still practiced in rural Pakistan and by tradition enthusiasts, this ceremony saw the groom's hair getting oil (Tael) massaged by relatives before Nikah ( the official ceremony of marriage). It is hard to trace back when the ritual was born and out of what necessity, but one could easily join some dots and say that the riwaaj germinated from the need of making the dry hot dust climate worn uncouth hair of the groom look more presentable. Oil cleans and nourishes your hair and makes it shine.

Before Unilever made their hair care products more abundantly available in the market than red cross food supply, hair care could stretch as far as to oil massage, that too once in a blue moon for men. So it all made sense.

“Riwaaj hain jee ( This is the custom sweetie)” is a line my brother and I throw at each other whenever we give up on rationalizing something meaningless that's been practiced without being questioned.

We picked up this line from the Bollywood movie 'Virasaat'. On the night of wedding at the wedding chamber, the newly weds in the movie are given a glass of warm milk mixed with turmeric to share. The groom, culturally groomed in the states doesn't know that and drinks the whole thing, leaving the village maiden, his wife at her wits end. So she gives this epic dialogue to educate her educated husband of the custom. It was hilarious!

But why this riwaaj?

Why bloody smelly turmer-

ic in bloody warm milk and why sharing it with an almost stranger from the same glass? Ice breaking?

You wish!

As a matter of fact, turmeric is long been known for its healing and antiseptic powers; so with no protection against STI in the old times, it only made sense to inject some resistance building stuff orally into the married reproductive systems. And why does the groom drink his share first and then gives the bride to drink up the rest? To adjust the PH level of their kiss chemistry? Excuse my cheekiness but that assumption would be too far fetched.

My guess is that this 'riwaaj' marks the start line of a couple's conjugal life were the bride would sit next to her husband while he eats, refill water and lassi , fan him, and feed on the leftovers once he is done.

She would do this for the rest of her life. Women were trained to think that they are doing it out of their love and devotion, slavery in a masochistic society in it's most glorious and romantic disguise. This custom is still alive somewhere out there, but is now more like a shadow. Ten years from now, this might be only seen on TV. In my lifetime spanning only a few decades, I have seen many rituals as such emerge, lose their charms and then disappear. But this inevitable life circle of riwaaj is not seen kindly by many. As much as new ways confuse us, we detest letting go old traditions.

But we cannot stop their birth, decay or demise. And to reconcile with our helplessness in this regard,

we end up being critical about our changing values that propel the existing set of riwaaj.

I have heard people say, “ Wedding rituals are all show off now. Too much extravagance and no sentimental value attached to it.”

They also blame today's generation of being too much materialistic. We now complain about bride and groom making a huge fuss about getting their photography right on the wedding occasions. It is so hard to get past the bunch of professional photographers to meet the couple on stage during the events. The stage where the bride and groom sit looks more like a studio now with several umbrellas installed that keep reflecting extra warm light on their faces. Annoying? Yes. Materialism in wedding culture a new entrant?

Absolutely not.

Ever seen Alta (red dye) adorned feet of a newly wed bride tipping off a metal pitcher filled with rice on to the floor while entering her in-law's place for the first time?

Spilling of rice symbolizes opulence. But this century old wedding ritual, still widely observed in India and Bangladesh was more than a symbol when it started. It was a promise, or to understate, it was a hope; a hope that this girl, this new member of the family would bring wealth to the household.

Brides were hence called Lakshmi with affection.

Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, love, beauty, prosperity and fortune was all that families in the subcontinent wanted to offer or gain out of a

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As a matter of fact, turmeric is long been known for its healing and antiseptic powers; so with no protection against STI in the old times, it only made sense to inject some resistance building stuff orally into the married reproductive systems. wedding. That expectation has waned, the appeal of the ritual now bends heavily towards getting more than hundred likes on facebook for uploading the captured moment.

Materialism in wedding practices is like a 'bhatakti hui atma' ( a soul without a body). It needs to dwell in rituals, nourish them and then feed on them from inside till only the hull remains to reflect the spiritual aspect of it. So if any new or old ritual in a wedding ever pisses you off, Keep Calm and say to yourself 'Riwaaj Hain Jee.' Let's allow wedding rituals to take their destined course of life cycle.

Money matters. But does it really matter if a woman peeks from your money rather than a man? In a changing world where visibility of women’s contribution in history and economy has gained its own importance, placing a woman on a paper bill can take empowerment one step ahead. No sooner President Obama found printing a woman’s face on paper bill “a good idea”, voluntary organization women on 20s kicked off a campaign with similar title demanding a woman’s face on 20 dollar paper bill. Within three years the campaign succeeded to gain immense attention from respective authorities and it is about time that Andrew Jackson bids his farewell from his long-hatched nest, 20 USD paper bill.

The movement encircles the idea of the nation’s celebrating the centennial of women’s right to vote in 2020 with a woman’s face on 20 dollar bill. The initiators believe that it is also a way to make visible the contribution of women who helped shaping the most dominant state of the world.

As history is “his story”, her story has remained untold since ages in almost every country and culture of the world. Bangladesh is no exception. Moreover, Bangladesh has achieved a tradition of twisting and turning history which makes identifying women’s contribution in shaping the country even more complicated.

Hence, contribution of Begum Rokeya or Pritilata in shaping Bangladesh is beyond any question. Isn’t it time for us too to make their contribution visible for generations?

Asking that was easy while the answer has many angles. Bangladesh stands in a crossroads when it comes to women empowerment. In one hand, we see women being compared with tetul (tamarind) that attributes women only with consumption. On the other hand, we have Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, and the Speaker of the Parliament-all females. Since the 90s, Bangladesh has been led mostly by women. Yet, we have the third highest rate of child marriage in the world.

Paper bills of Bangladesh have only one face, the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s. But on the other side of the bills, there are depiction of mass people who have the greatest contribution in shaping our economy. No wonder, we only see male there. For example, RMG sector now has the greatest contribution in our economy and this sector has gained its apex position through the contribution of women labor force; none of our bills portray that story. In the total process of depicting contributions through currency, women are absent. We must not forget that a paper bill is not just a currency.

It depicts one country’s culture, heritage, and history.

With keeping women absent from this R n B e g u m Pio depiction, not only greatest contributions of history are being denied, but also generations after generations are learning a partial history. Also, people are being deprived of having female role models. Actual S e B e g u m Po Putting faces of great women on taka can role models who have changed the open new chapters of women empowerment, course of history for the women of this land are not being followed by believes Nandini Shahla Chowdhury young girls, rather models posing for fairness products are becoming youth icons.

Having an image of Begum Rokeya in a girl’s hand in the shape of money can open a new window in the sense of her empowerment. Be it Begum ik Rokeya, Freedom fighter Taramon Bibi or just a common girl who walks a mile o t ee B ir P r Fr everyday towards the garments factory- they have carried a flame - a flame that has illuminated history, shaped Bangladesh and will continue illuminating the path of the development of the nation. This flame has brought down walls of conservative societal norms, brought changes in hundred years of old practices and compelled the society and state to patronize women’s empowerment. Yet, their contribution is still invisible from the token that carry our history, heritage and culture. On a positive note, we can always hope that with success of women on 10, 20 0r 100 taka note, we can also envision a Bangladesh where the contribution of women will leave its place from the closed attic and will find its way to the most important paper on earth, money.

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1268 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY 10602, Email: nyccommunitymedicalcare@gmail.com web: nyccommunitymedicalcare.com

nostalgia

GoneTaste Gone

Amitabh Dewry takes gastronomical refuge in the arms of nostalgia

It happened almost 30 years back. As the youngest member of the group, I was travelling from Barisal to Jhalokathi with my relatives. We were visiting the district that was famous for having the only automatic rice huller. After all these years, I totally forgot the face of the girl whom my maternal uncle was about to marry.

Interestingly, what still peeps into my mind are the delicacy that we were entertained with at the would-be bride’s house.

My mouth still waters at the sweet memory of the thick coconut gravy where a king prawn was half submerged with all its majestic grandeur. And yes, they served sweet-tangy green mango shorbot as welcome drink. It was the end of Boishakh!

In the age of home delivery of all sorts of foods, starting from pizza to dopeyaza to biryani or say taking selfie with foods and posting it every now and then on facebook groups, being a foodie is easy and cool! But for a person like me who grew up eating from the hands of an amazing cook (none other than my mother), reading, arguing, knowing about foods and various manifestations of taste, food is one of the most striking features that stands our nation apart! As a great fan, I truly believe and promote Bengali cuisine as one of the most diverse and nuanced cuisines of the world. My earliest and most interesting memory of a detail Bengali platter was from the aforementioned event. Everything about the meal was so special; all the courses and the way those were served, concisely was grand, fit for a king. Though I cannot

recall the name of all those items, I still remember that it was a fourteen-course meal. The bride’s family left no stone unturned to reach our heart through our stomach and undoubtedly, they were successful!

Gone are the days when almost in any regions of Bangladesh, a traditional Hindu meal had to be planned in advance and served course by course, one after another! Vegetarian dishes were served at the beginning as appetizers, and then used to come lentil soups. Curries having chicken or mutton used to be served after the fish. If anyone notices carefully, it was easy to understand that heavy items followed the lighter ones. To ensure a happy ending, sweet and sour chutney (pickles), roshogolla (sweetmeats) and doi (sweet curd) were served. Bengali cuisine was so wisely balanced that paan (betel leaves) was (and still is) served after heavy meals to facilitate digestion.

I was lucky enough to attend another ‘kone dekha’ (matrimonial meeting).

Jahangir uncle, our neighbor and best friend of my father had a late marriage.

This time the Muslim bride’s family served a whole chicken before us. The impeccable taste of the roasted chicken blew our mind. The whiff of the white polao (aromatic rice dish) and shahi rezala (royal gravy) teased our nostril: it was love at first smell! Besides many other sumptuous items, there were homemade cakes with various artistic shapes.

Meeting the brides/grooms have now become very monotonous. Everything seems very corporate and superficial to COLORSNYC.COM – 114

me. In a city with mushrooming Chinese restaurants and lounges, all one needs is to find a sophisticated place with ambient light and private space (oh! Google map makes the job much easier) and order foods like soup, salad and fried rice. My recent experiences even at weddings have nothing much to write home about. Same biryani, borhani, rezala; same binge eating! Even in remote districts, people are no longer enrooted to traditions. Everyone is in a rush; everything is very artificial and available. In those matrimonial meeting, when both the sides succeeded setting a date, sweets were distributed as a sign of a happy beginning. Still in many places, the tradition of paan-chini could be found. Sadly enough, the tradition of serving shorbot is on the run as fizzy drinks have made their ways in. Chicken wings, fried rice, Chinese vegetables are the staples of many events. Items of various fish are no longer found.

Our love for Hilsha, the national fish skyrockets on days like Pohela Boishakh. Ishwar Chandra Gupta’s detailing of the beauty and taste of a Topse fish will certainly seem like a foodporn to young foodies.

Machey bhatey Banglalee-the famous adage is no longer valid for our beloved country. Enjoying fish and chips (a British staple) are replacing the culture of angling and devouring freshly fried fishes with smoky white rice, green chili along with some vegetable curry or paste. Food too has its share of globalization. I am not against all the fusion foods that can enrich our taste buds with new delicacies; but I heart the way we are turning backs on our own cuisine and slowly letting it perish in the oblivion. Thanks to almighty, my mother is still there to woo our taste buds with her impeccable cooking.

Boishakh is advancing once again.

Some more wedding invites will follow. My heart will seek some gastronomical solace in nostalgia for sure.

rana plaza TRAGEDY

STORIES OF SURVIVAL

Andreana de Jong pens down the brave journey of Meena e.V to bring back smile on the face of Rana Plaza orphans

A

scene of serenity, of women dancing, painting, and creating art, their children all around them playing with each other-this is the vision Meena e.V. aspired when it opened up its first centre in Savar for the survivors of Rana Plaza. The mission being: creating an outlet for a new chance for development, for creation, for the future. The venue will be a safe haven for these vulnerable survivors for empowerment, teaching them new skills, providing medical support, and psycho – social counselling.

On 24th April 2013, the Rana Plaza complex including its five factories collapsed, claiming the lives of more than 1135 workers and injuring 2500 more. The tragic loss of lives has not only had an

enormous impact on the victim’s relatives but also on the industry, international stakeholders, and the international garment industry.

Meena e.V. quickly took care of most vulnerable victims of this tragedy, including a group of children. The objective has been to assist the Rana Plaza victims and dependents with medical treatment and essential needs. Successful implementation has led to the expansion of the reach of the program to include components for rehabilitation, recreation, and education. The NGO works actively and responsively and adapts and expands the program to suit the needs of the victims. From the commencement of Meena e.V. the team has worked

firstly for urgent relief, secondly stabilization, and finally for rehabilitation.

Founder Farhana von Mitzlaff privately started aiding victim’s from the start by providing clothing, water, anything that was of dire need. She had been actively working in compliance and CSR in the apparel industry in Bangladesh, and felt a huge urgency to help in whatever way she could. Gradually the support grew with donations from friends and few months later, a donation was offered from German corporations. This enabled an expansion to a larger program, which in the meantime comprises of 8 components supporting the victims personally.

One group is young mothers, who had been pregnant during the collapse, rescued, and

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delivered newborns. The other group is children who are half or full orphans, who needed instant support to secure their well-being.

Basic components for the beneficiaries include monthly financial support, distribution of food supplement package, medical care with physiotherapy and one year full treatment with family members, regular health camps for hundreds of victims. Through a partnership with Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) Savar Hospital the total number of patients treated at GK hospital supported by Meena is 3,348 persons.

Running the program, Meena e.V. quickly identified that the women and children needed continuous support.

Therefore, what started as a

private initiative quickly grew into an active NGO with its own office in Savar.

Besides providing the women and children with a monthly income, and food, Meena truly felt that the women and children who all lost something that day in Rana Plaza and whose lives have been unalterably changed should get undivided support in all aspects of their lives. The implications of the lives of the women and children are much further then needing monetary support; they need role models, support, outlets, counseling, and a new sense of direction, rehabilitation, skill training, and happiness.

Meena e.V. has recently been able to expand its program at their centre to teach dance to the woman and orphans, traditional

singing lessons, cutting lessons, education classes to learn how to read and write all the while getting medical support and counseling. The aim is to pave the way to a sustainable future where they can find their passions, and generate an income to provide for themselves and their family. Meena e.V. also organizes multiple recreation days where the women and children all come together for a day where they can enjoy breakfast, lunch, activities, dancing, singing, education, and entertainment. For the first time, the children have a sense of belong again, and they start to speak, interact, open up, and smile, something which they have not been able to do for a long time.

This year Meena e.V. had the opportunity to showcase the paintings created during the recreation days at a Global Social Responsibility Conference 2014 to raise awareness and funds for the survivors. Concluding that, they partnered up with the Danish Embassy in Bangladesh and Dhamrai Metal Crafts to organize a holistic and expressive workshop for the women where they were able to create sculptures using age old traditional bronze metal techniques telling their story.

With tears and smiles, the workshop resulted in proactive interactions and bonding among each other unfolding new horizons of self-actualized expressions of thoughts and dreams, amidst positive reflections arising from their

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self-confidence with renewed pledges to begin a new journey, and this is exactly the journey: The journey to the future, new beginnings, and hope. The journey continues for all survivors of Rana Plaza, the orphaned children and families left behind, and the RMG industry to protect the future and instill hope and provide new beginnings.

For more information or further contact

Meena e.V. Farhana von Mitzlaff, Founder +88 01929 069643, +49 30 82719212 Email: farhana@meena-support.de Website: www.meena-support.de