The government is preparing to celebrate the 135th death anniversary of revered poet Lalon Shah with a three-day “Lalon Utshab” in Kushtia alongside a simultaneous event in Dhaka. Notably, world-renowned scholar Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak is set to participate in the festivities.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and the Kushtia district administration, is scheduled to take place from October 17 to 19. According to an announcement shared on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s official Facebook page, the festival will bring together followers, bauls (mystic minstrels), and musicians for performances, discussions, and philosophical talks revolving around Lalon’s life and compositions.
Professor Spivak, a distinguished literary theorist, writer, and translator from Columbia University, has arrived in Dhaka to partake in the commemoration. She will serve as the main speaker at the festival and will deliver a lecture on Lalon in Kushtia on October 17. The inauguration of the event will be graced by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, an advisor to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as announced by the organizers on social media.
Spivak, recognized for her extensive academic contributions spanning comparative literature, subaltern studies, feminism, and political theory over five decades, was awarded this year’s Holberg Prize for her scholarly achievements. Additionally, she is known for her longstanding efforts in promoting rural education in West Bengal, focusing on educational initiatives for disadvantaged children.
The program in Kushtia at Lalon’s shrine in Cheuria will feature day-long bhaav-geeti (expressive songs), philosophical dialogues, and performances by baul and fakir groups from various regions of Bangladesh, including TunTun Baul, Sunil Karmakar, Rowshan Fakir, and Latif Shah. Meanwhile, the Dhaka event at Suhrawardy Udyan on October 18 will showcase a lineup of artists such as Emon Chowdhury and the Bengal Symphony, Lalon Band, Nirab & Bauls, Pothik Nabi, Suchona Shely, Baula Band, Arup Rahi, and Samogit.
The festival aims to underscore Lalon’s message of humanism and communal harmony, ideals believed to transcend Bengali communities and resonate across different generations. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to join the gatherings at Cheuria’s Lalon Dham or the Suhrawardy Udyan event in Dhaka to immerse themselves in the timeless songs and philosophies that continue to enrich South Asian cultural heritage.