FAIZA RAMIM

The High Commission of India in Dhaka, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), and HSBC Bangladesh welcomed the Bengali New Year with a musical evening featuring esteemed artistes Srikanta Acharya and Aditi Mohsin on April 17 and 18, respectively. The title, Badhon Ache Praane Praane: Of Harmony Within , was drawn from Rabindranath Tagore’s song Amra Milechi Aaj , reflecting the enduring idea that human connection transcends geography and political borders.

Pranay Verma, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, opened the event by emphasising that cultural bonds “run older and deeper than national boundaries.” Md Mahbub Ur Rahman, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh, followed by noting the significance of placing music at the center of cultural celebration—a rarity in an era where tradition often faces public pressure or narrow framing. The programme affirmed the region’s secular, inclusive character, highlighting values of openness and shared heritage.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s Cultural Affairs Minister, and Ranjan Bhattacharya, Managing Director and Head of Strategy for India and the Middle East at HSBC. Guests arrived at the High Commission in festive red and white attire, enjoying cuisine by Amari Dhaka before the performances began. On April 18, Zahir Uddin Swapon, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, attended the event.

The evening’s musical journey began with Aditi Mohsin, whose voice served as the event’s spiritual anchor. Widely regarded as one of the most authoritative exponents of Rabindra Sangeet in the subcontinent, Mohsin brought an atmospheric depth to the stage that commanded immediate silence. Her performance was more than a recital; it was an invitation into the philosophical core of Bengali culture. She opened with Rajanikanta Sen’s Tumi Nirmol Koro and Tagore’s Borisho Dhora Majhe Shantir Bari . Set to the same raag, the pairing moved thoughtfully from a plea for personal purification to a global appeal for peace. A graduate of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, Mohsin’s performance reflected her deep academic training, as she situated each song within the evolution of Bengali music.

If the evening was about “Harmony Within”, Srikanta Acharya was its living embodiment. For nearly three decades, Acharya has served as a cultural bridge between Kolkata and Dhaka, his voice carrying the weight of shared nostalgia and contemporary hope.

The evening transitioned into a collaborative segment as Mohsin was joined by the emiment Srikanta Acharya for duets of Esho He Boishakh and Shei Bhalo Shei Bhalo . Acharya, a renowned singer-songwriter and filmmaker from Kolkata, reflected on his 26-year relationship with Bangladeshi audiences, noting that every visit makes him feel “at home”.

In his solo set, Acharya performed hits such as Brishti Tomake Dilam and Cholo Let’s Go , alongside requested classics like Tomar Ankhir Moto Akasher Duti Tara . He also bridged linguistic styles with Jagjit Singh’s Jhuki Si Nazar and a blended rendering of Amay Proshno Kore Nil Dhrubotara .

The programme concluded on a personal note with Ami Shei Deshe Khujechi Koto , a song written by Acharya’s wife. Ultimately, the event served as a powerful reminder that shared cultural memory and music remain the strongest bonds between these two neighboring nations.