বাংলা 
English 
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid Speaks on the Second Day of the Memorial Festival
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid MP has said, 'This is my first visit to this Baul akhra bari. Coming here I realised that the works of this great-knowledgeable Lalon are no longer confined to the akhra bari of Cheuria in Kumarkhali, Kushtia. Lalon Sai's creations have become universal in the world. With the vow of serving mankind he wrote countless songs. This immortal musical creation of his was never confined within any religion.'
Just as his creations have spread across the world, better research is being done on him. Lalon Sai lifted mankind above the limitations of caste and creed. Lalon Sai's Baul doctrine has become universal in the world today. Drawn by the longing for self-purification, Bauls and fakirs from home and abroad rush to this akhra bari for the memorial festival of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai.
He said these words on Thursday night at the akhra bari in Cheuria as chief guest on the second day of the three-day programme of the memorial festival of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai, organised by the Lalon Academy. He further said, his work has crossed the country's borders and spread to the outer world. The sadhus come to this akhra bari, take initiation in the mantra of walking the path of truth, and enlighten themselves. In today's modern world I will invite every writer and researcher who has written books on Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai to deposit one copy each, on their own responsibility, in the Lalon Academy library at Cheuria, Kushtia. That way curious devotees, researchers from home and abroad, and today's generation will be able to know accurate information about Lalon Sai. It is for the immortality of Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Sai that Cheuria in Kushtia has now become a pilgrimage centre of world mysticism. He also announced that a Lalon Folklore Institute would soon be established at Cheuria, and that necessary arrangements would be made for the sadhus' sadhana, including salaries and allowances for staff and officers - a place where the musical notation of Lalon's songs and details of his spirituality would be known in full.
Presided over by Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aslam Hossain, the special guests at the event were Kushtia Municipality Mayor Anwar Ali, Kushtia District Council Chairman Alhajj Robiul Islam, Kushtia's Additional Police Super Mostafizur Rahman, president of the Kushtia Press Club Abdur Rashid Chowdhury, general secretary of the District Shilpakala Academy Amirul Islam, and president of the Kushtia branch of the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad Alam Ara Juny. Speaking as the main discussant was Islamic University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Shahinur Rahman; the eminent Lalon researcher Advocate Lalim Haq spoke on the world of Lalon's spiritual thought and the Baul life.
Welcoming remarks were given by Kushtia's Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Obaidur Rahman and Lalon Academy ad hoc committee member Mohammad Selim Haq. The welcome address was delivered by ad hoc committee member and APP Advocate Shahidul Islam. After the discussions the guests were received on behalf of the Kushtia Lalon Academy with bouquets, an ektara - the symbol of self-purification - and crests. Discussant Advocate Lalim Haq said that Baul emperor Fakir Lalon Shah is a great representative of Bengali culture. The mainstream of Bengali culture is folk culture, and Fakir Lalon is one of those who nourished that stream. Upholding communal harmony and standing against religiously fanatic fundamentalism, his fakiri doctrine and Baul philosophy stand as humanity's foremost philosophy. The great representative of Bengali culture, Lalon the fakir, is deep in humanist values and social consciousness through his songs and sadhana; Lalon the fakir is at once mystic and rebel, and through his songs the many themes of Baul sadhana have been pursued. Through his songs he fought the discords and evil customs of society, and fought all casteism and injustice. At the musical event of the second phase, songs were performed by renowned Lalon singers of Bangladesh; the opening song was performed by Baul Abdul Quddus, a former member of the Lalon Academy. Samir Baul, Khurshid Alam and Sufia Kangalini also performed. The musical performance continued until late at night. The overall presentation and conduct of the memorial festival were handled by Farhana Yasmin and Kanak Chowdhury.
Source - Arif Mehmud - Andoloner Bazar.
