বাংলা 
English 
Khulna Divisional Commissioner Lokman Hossain Miah has said that the profound knowledge in the songs of the Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai — called illiterate by some — had truly mesmerised him. He is an undiscovered world in the treasury of knowledge. Many countries have presented him in many ways. As a spiritually accomplished sage he appeared to build a society of truth, free of caste.
Lalon Sai was a world man. Even in today's age he occupies the very middle of human hearts. Research on him is being carried out in different countries in different languages; his songs are being translated. In age after age, the wise and the pathfinders have been born for the welfare of humanity — and so, on the sacred soil of Cheuria in Kushtia, a great soul and great knower like Lalon Sai was born. In his reborn human life Lalon was drawn to no particular religion. Lalon Sai, rising above the limits of all religions, always called people to the path of man-worship, to walk the path of truth. He said these words as chief guest on the closing day, Wednesday, of the three-day programme organised by the Lalon Academy at the Akhra Bari in Cheuria on the occasion of the 127th Tirodhan Dibas (death anniversary) of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai.
He said further that Lalon Sai wrote countless songs precisely to establish the ideal of humanity. Lalon taught people that by serving others one can become truly simple and pure. Man cannot be kept behind the fence of religion. No harmony can be maintained while confined within a religion. Above all religions stands the religion of man. Though this mystic sage had no institutional education, he was self-educated in the arrangement of a modern society. Forgetting the divisions of religion and caste, what boundless words he spoke for the welfare of man! He said that though we may not at once recognise the one who dwells between body and soul, Lalon Sai revealed who that one is in his songs. Addressing the youth who will lead the coming days, the chief guest said: do not plunge yourself into the self-destructive game of the Blue Whale; build an interest in the playing field instead. To save your children from the horrors of drugs, keep an eye on your children and, inspired by the ideals of Lalon Sai, engage them in constructive work for the good of the country and the nation. Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai was the architect of the Bengali's modern social order. Fakir Lalon Sai is the pioneering figure of the awakening of Bengali national consciousness. On this hallowed ground of Lalon he has left behind worthy disciples, who will establish his ideal age after age. His ideal of humanity has made Kushtia the capital of the land of spiritual thought. In this age of civilisation, forgetting envy and hatred, all must keep themselves engaged, ever walking the path of truth and right, in implementing the timeless slogan of the Baul emperor's religion and philosophy — “speak the truth, walk the right path, O my mind” — for the development of country and nation.
The function was chaired by Kushtia District Commissioner Md. Jahir Raihan. The special guests included Abul Bayes Miah, chief executive officer of the Kushtia Zila Parishad; acting civil surgeon Dr. Arbindu Pal; additional police superintendent Jaynal Abedin; Abdur Rashid Chowdhury, prominent journalist, president of the Kushtia Press Club and editor of the daily Bangladesh Barta; prominent writer and columnist Sheikh Gias Uddin Ahmed Mintu; A Z M Shafiul Hannan, executive engineer of the Public Works Department in Kushtia; Amirul Islam, prominent theatre personality and general secretary of the District Shilpakala Academy; Alhaj Gazi Manzurul Islam, noted Lalon researcher; and Alam Ara Juie, president of the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad, among others.
The welcome address and thanks were given by Uchchen M., member secretary of the ad hoc committee of the Lalon Academy. As the main discussant, Professor Dr. Harun-ur-Rashid Askari, vice-chancellor of Islamic University, spoke on the spirituality of Fakir Lalon Sai.
The Akhra Bari of the Baul emperor at Cheuria was wet with the dust of the feet of the lakhs of devotees, admirers and sadhu-gurus who came from home and abroad for this year's Tirodhan Dibas. The devotees pledged to remain devoted forever, forgetting all divisions of religion and caste, to the welfare of man in accordance with Saiji's ideology, and to establish the ideal of the hidden love of humanity in today's society. In this age of civilisation, forgetting envy and hatred, all must keep themselves engaged, ever on the path of truth and right, in implementing Saiji's casteless philosophy of man — “who else will go with you” — for the development of country and nation. Though the non-violent humanity, and the casteless philosophy of man and music of the fakiri doctrine of the mystic sage Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai, have crossed the country's borders and claimed their place in the world's embrace, they have hardly been expressed, broadcast or spread in any language other than Bangla. More initiative is needed in this regard. He created thousands of idealistic songs precisely to establish the path of the liberation and devotion of humanity. But for want of adequate academic publicity and publication they could not truly stir the world. He uttered the hardest sayings in the simplest way in his songs. His immortal musical creations cannot be broadcast and published in a stereotyped way. The world's leading researchers want ever newer facts about Lalon's creations.
Lalon Academy president and Kushtia District Commissioner Md. Jahir Raihan expressed gratitude and thanks to the police and RAB engaged in maintaining law and order, the local volunteers, the countless devotees and sadhu-gurus of Lalon Sai who came from home and abroad, the journalists and the distinguished people of the area for the successful, meaningful and beautiful completion of the three-day Tirodhan Dibas programme.
After the discussion, in the second session Lalon songs were performed on the Lalon stage by various artistes and cultural organisations. Among the performers were Samir Baul, the renowned Baul artiste of the subcontinent, and Sufia Kangalini, along with reputed artistes of the country and the local artistes of the Lalon Academy. Saikat Mahmud and Lina Afroz presented the three-day Tirodhan Dibas programme.
Source: Andoloner Bazar
