Spread cultural practices to keep young generation on right path: PM

University like Shantiniketan to be set up in Shahjadpur and Shilaidaha

8 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Unb, Dhaka

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the cultural activists to spread cultural practices among the young generation so they do not go astray. “Spread the cultural practices among the new generation to keep them on the path of a brighter way of life,” she said while inaugurating the 149th birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore at the national level at a function at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad presided over the function with State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promod Mankin as the special guest. Cultural Affairs Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamun gave the welcome address while Dr Fakhrul Alam of Dhaka University delivered the Rabindra memorial lecture. The PM said the new generation is now busy with other things rather than practicing culture. In this connection, she mentioned that some among the young generation are addicted to drugs while some others engaged in money making at any cost. Stressing the need for bringing such errant members of the young generation back to the brighter side of life, she said there is no other way but to engage them in cultural activities. Hasina said her government would provide all sorts of cooperation to spread cultural activities across the country for putting the young generation on the right track. She said Rabindranath is omnipresent in all areas for the Bengali nation. “We find him and his literature in all our day to day activities. We find him and his works in peace, happiness and depression; we find him in agitation and revolution.” She said the appeal of the literature of Rabindranath is still very fresh in the lives of the Bangalees. “We can feel his literature in all ages of our lives,” she said adding that the works of Rabindranath is for all irrespective of ages and religion. Hasina said he (Tagore) established the Bengali language and Bengali nation in the world arena with his great creation 'Geetanjali'. In this regard, she mentioned that father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the other person who established Bengali nation in the world arena apart from Rabindranath. She also noted that poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was the creator of the slogan 'Joy Bangla'. Hasina regretted that some narrow minded people often bring religion and race of Rabindranath to undermine his contribution to the Bengali literature and his works for the Bengali nation. “It is our great sorrow that some of us judge him by his religion, we have to shun this mindset,” she said. She said it is difficult for a person in Bangladesh to move ahead without Rabindranath. She said her government has taken an initiative to set up a university like Shantiniketan in Shahjadpur and Shilaidaha for preservation and practices of and research on Rabindranath Tagore and his works. She urged the researchers to delve deeper into other activities of Rabindranath except his literary works. “We always go for research on his literature, but he had done a lot for the welfare of the people of this land. We've to bring those in the spotlight,” she said. Hasina said Rabindranath was also the pioneer in introducing micro-credit in this region and spent all the money he received from Nobel Prize on this venture. She said it was with Rabindranath Tagore's literature that the nation could stand up with great pride in the world arena. “Let me assure you, in the near future we'll also stand up with great pride in the world arena after establishing ourselves economically… this government has taken so many initiatives in this respect.”