Punam Priyam :
Sometimes I wonder if there was 48 hours in a day, how much i could’ve sunk myself working more than I do in a day now. I also wonder if life had a time machine, how desperately I would’ve travelled back to the golden days of my childhood. Ah I wish, I could’ve gone back to fulfill my dreams of becoming a successful doctor back then! This has been something which I have regretted my entire life, I had the chance back then to become what I aspired to be. Why didn’t I? My close friends always comfort me by saying, “so what if you didn’t become a doctor? Is being a senior program producer and a TV personality of a renowned channel any less than the one of a doctor?”
I usually have to travel back and forth abroad almost every year! This is what keeps my mind refreshed, content and lets me escape from any stresses. I love to travel and to experience the working world abroad!
This year, I scored a hat-rick at the Boi Lit festival 2016 in London by performing at my best, being the master of ceremony (mc) for the entire festival (Day 1). Without any doubts, the people who are behind this successful achievement of mine at the Boi Lit are; writer and Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reja Sagar, beautiful poet and Chairperson of BSKL Shamim Azad, talented fashion designer Khadija Rahman and the entire team members of Bishwa Shahitya Kendro London (BSKL). I have always felt very connected to these few people from my heart and soul and am very thankful for everything they have contributed for my success.
The festival was held on the 21st and 22nd may 2016 at Richmix in London with Channel I Bangladesh as the festival’s media partner. The first day of the festival was about children’s literature on storytelling, dance, drama, songs and along with that there was a book fair as well which featured literature and stories for children. This goal of Boi Lit this year was to find out how children view literature through their own eyes. The theme of Day 1 of the festival was children and literature and of day 2 was Bengali Rennaisance.
EAST’ storytellers Sef Townsend , Paul Burges, poet Shamim Azad, bilingual poet Farah Naz and I started the show by lighting some candles with the theme song playing Alo amar alo. The inauguration was a mesmerizing sight for the viewers to see!
After the inauguration, the Uttoradhikar segment began. The owner of fashion house and designer of Bibiana Lipi Khandker, who began loving the arts and literature from a very early age became an inspiration and a role model for the children participating in Boi Lit on that day. A child named Adiyat Zahir performed a little reading of a story for the audience, while doing so, Lipi Khandker and Khadija Rahman painted the illustrations on a canvas live as the story progressed. Along with that, Tanzanian poet, writer and musician Freddy Matcha performed as a special guest. He was excellent at playing the drums; the audience definitely were enjoying themselves to his beats. A short play called Juta Abishkar (invention of shoes) by Tagore was acted out by children who are young members of BSKL.
The script of this play was written by Shoeb Chamok and was directed by Saima Ahmed. The children performed outstandingly with amazing eye catching and colorful outfits. While the kids were acting, songs being sung in the background by BSKL members were of famous music composer Shalil Chowdhury. Songs such as Hobuchandra Raja was very pleasant for the audience to listen to, the music took them into an entire different world.
Children from Bangla TV UK ‘talent hunt show’ also participated, their exceptional performance made the show more interesting. This entire segment was called the ‘Open Mike’ which was coordinated by Fauzia Shelly. This part of the show was so enjoyable that everyone including me sang along with the kids. Along with that, Tanzanian poet, writer and musician Freddy Matcha performed as a special guest. He was excellent at playing the drums; the audience definitely were enjoying themselves to his beats.
The first day of Boi Lit festival ended with a heart touching video clip screened through a projector. It was about the lives of the street children of Bangladesh produced by ‘Sporsho’. It is a charity foundation which works for the development of and to establish the rights of the poor street children of our country. It began its activities with Boi Lit 2016 in London. I requested everyone to stand up with team Sporsho to show their support for the unfortunate street children. All we need is to give them some bright light into a better future where they will be able to flourish their talents, study and work to their true potential.
I would like to conclude this article by thanking all the sponsors of Boi Lit 2016; Rich mix, Bibiana, Bangla TV, Channel I, THCH and Sporsho. While participating in the Boi Lit festival this year, it felt to me like I was in a small version of Bangladesh which resided in the city of London. Cherishing every moment I spent with the members of BSKL and the children, I returned back home with amazing memories to look back on. n
Sometimes I wonder if there was 48 hours in a day, how much i could’ve sunk myself working more than I do in a day now. I also wonder if life had a time machine, how desperately I would’ve travelled back to the golden days of my childhood. Ah I wish, I could’ve gone back to fulfill my dreams of becoming a successful doctor back then! This has been something which I have regretted my entire life, I had the chance back then to become what I aspired to be. Why didn’t I? My close friends always comfort me by saying, “so what if you didn’t become a doctor? Is being a senior program producer and a TV personality of a renowned channel any less than the one of a doctor?”
I usually have to travel back and forth abroad almost every year! This is what keeps my mind refreshed, content and lets me escape from any stresses. I love to travel and to experience the working world abroad!
This year, I scored a hat-rick at the Boi Lit festival 2016 in London by performing at my best, being the master of ceremony (mc) for the entire festival (Day 1). Without any doubts, the people who are behind this successful achievement of mine at the Boi Lit are; writer and Managing Director of Channel i Faridur Reja Sagar, beautiful poet and Chairperson of BSKL Shamim Azad, talented fashion designer Khadija Rahman and the entire team members of Bishwa Shahitya Kendro London (BSKL). I have always felt very connected to these few people from my heart and soul and am very thankful for everything they have contributed for my success.
The festival was held on the 21st and 22nd may 2016 at Richmix in London with Channel I Bangladesh as the festival’s media partner. The first day of the festival was about children’s literature on storytelling, dance, drama, songs and along with that there was a book fair as well which featured literature and stories for children. This goal of Boi Lit this year was to find out how children view literature through their own eyes. The theme of Day 1 of the festival was children and literature and of day 2 was Bengali Rennaisance.
EAST’ storytellers Sef Townsend , Paul Burges, poet Shamim Azad, bilingual poet Farah Naz and I started the show by lighting some candles with the theme song playing Alo amar alo. The inauguration was a mesmerizing sight for the viewers to see!
After the inauguration, the Uttoradhikar segment began. The owner of fashion house and designer of Bibiana Lipi Khandker, who began loving the arts and literature from a very early age became an inspiration and a role model for the children participating in Boi Lit on that day. A child named Adiyat Zahir performed a little reading of a story for the audience, while doing so, Lipi Khandker and Khadija Rahman painted the illustrations on a canvas live as the story progressed. Along with that, Tanzanian poet, writer and musician Freddy Matcha performed as a special guest. He was excellent at playing the drums; the audience definitely were enjoying themselves to his beats. A short play called Juta Abishkar (invention of shoes) by Tagore was acted out by children who are young members of BSKL.
The script of this play was written by Shoeb Chamok and was directed by Saima Ahmed. The children performed outstandingly with amazing eye catching and colorful outfits. While the kids were acting, songs being sung in the background by BSKL members were of famous music composer Shalil Chowdhury. Songs such as Hobuchandra Raja was very pleasant for the audience to listen to, the music took them into an entire different world.
Children from Bangla TV UK ‘talent hunt show’ also participated, their exceptional performance made the show more interesting. This entire segment was called the ‘Open Mike’ which was coordinated by Fauzia Shelly. This part of the show was so enjoyable that everyone including me sang along with the kids. Along with that, Tanzanian poet, writer and musician Freddy Matcha performed as a special guest. He was excellent at playing the drums; the audience definitely were enjoying themselves to his beats.
The first day of Boi Lit festival ended with a heart touching video clip screened through a projector. It was about the lives of the street children of Bangladesh produced by ‘Sporsho’. It is a charity foundation which works for the development of and to establish the rights of the poor street children of our country. It began its activities with Boi Lit 2016 in London. I requested everyone to stand up with team Sporsho to show their support for the unfortunate street children. All we need is to give them some bright light into a better future where they will be able to flourish their talents, study and work to their true potential.
I would like to conclude this article by thanking all the sponsors of Boi Lit 2016; Rich mix, Bibiana, Bangla TV, Channel I, THCH and Sporsho. While participating in the Boi Lit festival this year, it felt to me like I was in a small version of Bangladesh which resided in the city of London. Cherishing every moment I spent with the members of BSKL and the children, I returned back home with amazing memories to look back on. n
(Punam Priyam is a host and Senior Programme
Producer of Channel i Bangladesh)
