The Bengali Year was introduced in Bengal during the time of Mughal Emperor Akber for the convenience of the land and crop’s tax collectors. Gradually business men began to transfer outstanding balances of the debtors in their new ledgers after closing profit and loss accounts. In other words, Emperor Akber put stress on the revenue collection and hence ordered new calendar year to suit the Bengali people.
But nowadays the Bengali New Year is not related to the country’s economy. Different socio-cultural organizations design such programme that runs counter to the values we uphold. A visit to the Ramna Park in Dhaka will testify the statement.
Mongal shovayatra (candle procession), wearing horrid masks do not represent our culture. It is imported from beyond the international boundary. In our celebration of the Bengali New Year, National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Palli Kobi Jasimuddin Ahmed, folklore Emperor Abbas Uddin Ahmad, his daughter Ferdoury Begum, and Abdul Alim are totally overlooked. Bhatially and Bhawaiya have been vanished. All these depict our sorry state.
So, may we request the ministry of information to give more time to the folksongs and folk history.
Dhaka
