Year-long event marking dancer Bulbul’s birth centenary starts

A year-long event marking the birth centenary of late prominent dancer-choreographer Bulbul Chowdhury, also known as Nrityacharya, started at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Segunbagicha on January 22. State minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was present as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. Among others, cultural activist Kamal Lohani, human rights activist Sultana Kamal, eminent dancers Laila Hasan, Amanul Haque and Bangladesh Dance Artistes' Association president Minu Haque were present at the programme. The event was presided over by Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
 Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh Dance Artistes' Association have jointly chalked out the year-long celebration programme which will feature a number of events round the year including publication of a commemorative book on Bulbul

Chowdhury, dance drama festival, nationwide dance competition, seminars, conferring of Bulbul Chowdhury Padak and others.
Following the inauguration, renowned dance troupes Pallavi Dance Centre, Nrityalok, Kathak Nritya Sampraday, Dhriti Nrityanalay, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts, Nandan Kala Kendra, Dibya Sangskritik Sangathan, Nrityam, Nandanik and others entertained the audience with diverse dance recitals.
From childhood, Bulbul had been keenly interested in dance, music, painting, poetry and writing. He won the first prize for painting in an art competition held at Manikganj in 1934. But he became famous mainly as a dancer, his career starting with Chatak-Dance, a dance that he had choreographed himself, at a cultural function at Manikganj High School. He also performed in the cultural programmes at Presidency College. During this period Bulbul came in contact with well-known artistes, such as the sarod player Santosh Chandra, composer Timir Baran Bhattacharya, dancers Uday Shankar and Sadhana Bose.
Recognising himself as a simple Bengali artiste he clearly pointed out the indispensable contribution the nation as a whole had made for establishing Pakistan despite having many inter-racial differences. Marks of this can be traced distinctly in his works. As he had incorporated the outer Bengali or the more Pakistani philosophy with his works he had also grasped the secular folk tradition of Bangla. He believed in arts' power that does not only reflect the peasant life but also heals it. His works echoed calls for rebellion against oppression and ideas for a newer world order. He died before his potential reached its height. Now the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy and many dance artistes of the country are keeping his memories fresh.
In January 1940, Bulbul came to Dhaka with his troupe and performed a number of dance dramas. Back in Calcutta, he established Calcutta Culture Centre in 1941. During the World War II, he moved to Chittagong and worked at different places from 1943 to 1947. During 1950-1952, he performed in dance concerts in the unified Pakistan. In 1953, with his troupe, he visited Europe in countries including Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and France. He was declared as the National Dancer of Pakistan in 1949. By situating dance as part of the Mughal tradition, he challenged conservative Muslim attitudes towards dance, and helped in making dance gain social respectability and popularity.
Bulbul was married to Afroza Bulbul Chowdhury, a dancer and actress. He passed away in Kolkata, at the mere age of 35. After his death, Afroza founded the Bulbul Institute of Culture in Karachi and the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA) in Dhaka, to uphold his legacy.