SSAI Sanglaap Art and Culture Annual Meet

Language, Lyrics and Philosophy of Maizbhandaris in Chittagong (Bangladesh)

Chair and Discussants: Dr Sanjukta Ghosh (SOAS South Asia Institute), Prof AY MD Jafar (Maizbhandari Trust), Prof Abul Quasem (Cox Bazar University), Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury (Ex-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chittagong (CU)

Prof Quasem (ex-VC of Cox Bazar University)is the author of Bengali Muslims in Quest of Identity -- Modern Period Chittagong, 2019 and Muslim Separatism in Bengali Literature (1940-1970) Dhaka, 2006. Prof AY MD Jafar has written extensively on Maijbhandari songs and Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury is an eminent social scientist who served as the 17th Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University.

Artists

Syed Jaber Sorwar is the Cultural Secretary of Maizbhandari Moromi Goshti, Teacher at Maizbhandari Sangeet Niketon and Enlisted Artist, Chattogram Betar & Bangladesh Television (Chattogram Center).

Sajjad Hossain Arman is Member Artist of Maizbhandari Moromi Goshti, Qawal & Artist, Bangladesh Television, Chattogram Center).

Nayan Shill is Member Artist of Maizbhandari Moromi Goshti, Massranga Magic Bauliana 2019 Winner and Radio & Television artist.

Abstract

This performance webinar will be led by three eminent artists of the Maizbhandari Moromi Goshti with a discussion led by Prof Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury on the significance of Sufi influence in the regional culture of Chittagong, the spread of Maizbhandari philosophy to other parts of Bangladesh and international outreach. Artists will respond to an interactive discussion on the content and style of singing and comment on their lived experience of belonging to a community of regional qawwal and among other Sufi singing practitioners. Prof AY MD Jafar will explain the composition of vernacular songs using translations and their significance in Maijbhandari philosophy as a distinct cultural genre of the region, influenced also by specific language development through the articulation of folk songs and its consumption. Prof Abul Quasem will add to the discussion as a linguistic expert on Chittagong language spoken by some 14 million people of greater Chittagong (Districts of Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban) and Akyab (of Myanmar). The current interest in its rich folk, literary and oral tradition in the form of religious poems (Maizbhandari songs) has led to a revival of a writing system (without the existence of a formal script), in parallel to the regional singing traditions.

The discussion and performance are followed by Q&A.

Hosted by SOAS South Asia Institute and Maizbhandari KA Trust