The Evolution of Pahela Baishakh

Pahela Baishakh celebration in London, 2013.

 

In the “Wealth of Nations”, Adam Smith wrote in 1776, taxes should be collected when taxpayers find it convenient to pay. Two centuries before Smith, Akbar the Great realised this when he faced the challenge of collecting taxes to run the Mughal Empire. Akbar and his astrologers did something that has now become a hallmark of modern tax systems: convenience.
Akbar was using a lunar calendar. The economy evolved around agriculture (the sun). The Bangla Shon (Calendar) that originated during Shashanka, the Great Ruler of Gour, was a solar calendar. Its New Year was tuned to agriculture. All the months were named after a constellation, except for the first month, Agrahayan (the leader). Pahela Agrahayan or Nobanno was the old Bangla New Year. Why? That was when farmers reaped the largest harvest of the year, the Aman crop. Akbar noticed paying taxes in Agrahayan was 'taxing' for the farmers at times. Akbar and his astrologers decided to start the year from Baishakh. This was five months after Agrahayan. It also coincided with the Nowruz festival of the Persian tradition. Taxpaying would now become easy. Through Akbar, Pahela Baishakh became the New Year and the 'Hal Khata' came where the business community welcomes the New Year on a clean slate, paying all dues.
Countries today set the last date of tax payments a few months after the end of the fiscal year. The fiscal year in the USA ends September 30, but US taxpayers can pay their taxes till April 15. In Bangladesh, our fiscal year ends June 30, but the last date of payment is almost never before end of September.
Some months of the old Bangla Calendar (Ponjika) had 29 and 32 days. In 1963, the Bangla Academy synchronised the Bangla Ponjika with the Gregorian calendar. The Sage, Muhammad Shahidullah, was the chair. The first five months (Baishakh to Bhadra) would have 31 days. The remaining seven months (Ashwin to Chaitra) would have 30 days. This gave 365 days. In a Leap Year, the month of Falgun would have 31 days. The new Bangla Calendar formally started on Pahela Baishakh 1402 (April 1995). Since then, this is how we in Bangladesh calculate the Bangla Shon.
Rural fairs popularised Pahela Baishakh. They gave traders, artisans, artistes and entertainers a certain market. The ubiquitous Nagordola was accompanied by kite flying, bull racing, wrestling, cock fights, pigeon racing, and boat racing. Baishakhi Melas also preserved epic tales like Lailee Majnu, Yusuf Zulekha, and Randha Krishna. However, they didn't have an anthem. Rabindranath Tagore gifted “Esho Hey Baishakh”. The menu was complete after Panta Bhaat (watery rice) and Shorshe Ilish (hilsa with mustard) joined the platter. However, Pahela Baishakh was still very much a rural affair. The urban genteel were outside its realms.
Chhayanaut held the first of their many Pahela Baishakh celebrations at the Batamul of Ramna Park in 1965. The 1960s were turbulent times. Tagore's music was banned.  Through Pahela Baishakh, Chhayanaut brought Tagore back to where he always belonged -- the heart of the Bengali nation. By the 1980s, Pahela Baishakh celebrations became a carnival thanks to the Fine Arts Institute (Charukala) of the University of Dhaka. The Charukala Carnival needed an anthem. Feedback revitalised the colours and the spirit of Pahela Baishakh for generations to come with their timeless “Mela-e Jaire”.
Two important factors since the second half of the 1980s have influenced Baishakhi Melas. First: Dhaka became a mega city and Bangladesh has been experiencing steady growth for more than two decades now. Second: Bangladeshis are migrating and settling abroad. The urban middle class today has grown in numbers and has more purchasing power than they had three decades ago. This has boosted deshi fashion, food, handicrafts, handmade toys etc to find certain markets. Urban Baishakhi Melas are a historical extension of their rural counterparts from yester years.
Let's never forget expat Bangladeshis. They create a 'Little Bangladesh' wherever they go. Starting in 1997, the Pahela Baishakh Festival at Brick Lane in London today is the largest open-air Asian festival in Europe. In Europe, it is second only to the Notting Hill Carnival of London.
Over the centuries, Pahela Baishakh has successfully brought divergent hearts to a common platform. It remains one of the few celebrations that unite 'Bangladeshis' and 'Bengalis' even if for one day. Pahela Baishakh has come a long way from the Agra Court passing the rural fields of Bengal, urban centres of Bangladesh and now conquering new grounds in Britain and the rest of the world.

Asrar Chowdhury teaches economic theory and game theory in the classroom. Outside he listens to music and BBC Radio; follows Test Cricket; and plays the flute. He can be reached at: asrar.chowdhury@facebook.com