On the occasion of its 19th anniversary, recitation group Shwanan arranged a cultural programme titled Rabindranath: Antarey Anuragcy at the National Museum auditorium on Friday last. The special feature of the programme was the presentation of the research work titled Rabibabur Gaan Bonam Rabindrasangeet (Songs of Rabindranath Versus Rabindrasangeet) by eminent Indian recitor Partho Ghosh.

The programme was inaugurated by linguist Jamil Chowdhury who welcomed the effort of Shwanan to establish the practice

of proper pronunciation of Bangla language and poetry recitation. He said, ’One of the main targets of our Liberation War was to build a non-communal society which can be done by proper practice of Bangla.’ Professor Anisuzzaman, Jamil Chowdhury, Partho Ghosh and his wife Gouri Ghosh were honoured with Uttario by Rupa Chakroborti and Mustafa Alam of Shwanan.

The programme started with the recitation of NaboAnandeyJago by the artistes of the group. Later Rupa Chakroborti recited Tagore’s Udbodhon. Kazi Arif and Jayanto Chattopadhyay presented two poems Kripon and Ei Tb Payc CholarPoth.

Gouri Ghosh passionately recited the poem Premer Shona. Earlier she had said, We came here ignoring the barrier of the boundaries between the two countries to celebrate the Victory Day with the people of Bangladesh.’

Partho Ghosh along with his wife Gouri conducted the next session on Tagore songs with interesting information about how the songs of Tagore were tuned by different singers in the earlier period of Thgore’s life. He started with the visual representation of Tagore’s photographs, manuscripts and different other pictures related with the presentation. Gouri played the songs that had been

recorded about 80 to 95 years back by different artistes like Saroda Sundari. However, Partho added, 'Rabindranath Tagore never approved of the distortion of these songs by the then popular singers.'

Renowned Rabindra Sangeet artistes Rizwana Chowdhury Bonya, Mita Haque, Saadi Muhammad, Papya Sarwar, Mohiuzzaman Moina, Laisa Ahmed Lisa and Tapan Mahmud performed Tagore's songs in the original times of Rabindranath Tagore.

Although the programme was conceptually exceptional, the presentation failed to satisfy the audience due to lack of proper coordination.