‘Cultural awakening key to resisting fanaticism’
Cultural awakening is the most powerful means of resisting religious fanaticism, intolerance and sectarian divisions in the modern world, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said on Sunday.
He also stressed the need for joint Bangladesh-India initiatives using literature, music, theatre and folk traditions to strengthen human values and social harmony.
The minister made the remarks when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on him at the Secretariat. During the meeting, they discussed the historical and cultural ties between the two countries, the ongoing Nazrul Year, exchanges of artists and researchers, classical music, traditional folk arts, youth talent development and joint efforts to preserve maritime cultural heritage.
Nitai said the shared languages, literature, music, folk traditions and human values of the two peoples provide the strongest foundation for bilateral relations. As part of the Nazrul Year celebrations, he invited Nazrul researchers, performers and cultural personalities from India to participate in various events being organised in Bangladesh and jointly with other countries. He identified Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Lalon Shah and Bengali folk music as key elements of the shared cultural heritage of Bangladesh and India. State Minister for Culture Ali Newaz Mahmood Khyom proposed establishing a classical music network between the two countries. As an initial step, he suggested inviting two classical musicians from India to Bangladesh to conduct training workshops.
He also called for updating the existing Bangladesh-India Cultural Cooperation Agreement through a new strategic plan.
Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi proposed joint training programmes, residency projects and cultural exchanges for young talents from both countries, saying such initiatives would strengthen mutual understanding among future generations.
