Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Eid Mubarak | ঈদ মোবারক


The new crescent moon of Shawwal (the tenth month of Hijri Calendar) has been sighted in Bengal, thus marking the end of the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan- the month of fasting.  Eid ul-Fitr (ঈদুল ফিত্‌র) is to be observed today on 31st of August, 2011.


With the sighting of the new crescent, every Bengali’s heart fills with the tune of the famous song "Ō mōn rōmajānēr ai rōjāra śēē ēlō khuśīr īd Tu'i āpanākē āaj biliē dē śōn āsmānī tāgid।। by beloved rebel poet – Kazi Nazrul Islam:


"ও মন রমজানের ঐ রোজার শেষে এলো খুশীর ঈদ।
তুই আপনাকে আজ বিলিয়ে দে শোন্‌ আসমানী তাগিদ।।
তোর সোনা-দানা বালাখানা সব রাহে ইলিল্লাহ্‌।
দে জাকাত মুর্দ্দা মুসলিমের আজ ভাঙাইতে নিদ্‌।।
আজ পড়বি ঈদের নামাজরে মন সেই সে ঈদ গাহে।
যে ময়দানে সব গাজী মুসলিম হয়েছে শহীদ।।
আজ ভুলে যা তোর দোস্ত ও দুশমন হাত মিলাও হাতে।
তোর প্রেম দিয়ে কর বিশ্ব নিখিল ইসলামে মুরীদ।।
ঢাল হৃদয়ের তোর তশতরীতে শির্‌নী তৌহিদের।
তোর দাওয়াতে কবুল করবে হজরত হয় মনে উম্মীদ।। "

-বিদ্রোহী কবি কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম

  
Eid means the day of joy and thanksgiving. Eid ul-Fitr, the first Eid of the year is celebrated allover Bengal with great enthusiasm. It is haram or forbidden to fast on the day of Eid, so it is recommended to have a small breakfast as a sign of not fasting. Muslim from all walks of life can be seen adorned in new or best available clothes, visiting Masjid’s to attend Salaatul Eid. It is a Sunnah (Prophetic tradition) that the Sadaqat-ul-fitr, an obligatory charity, is paid to the poor and the needy before performing the ‘Eid prayer by all those adult Muslims who are required to pay ZakatGreetings of “Eid Mobarak / ঈদ মোবারক” are exchanged.

Eid prayers are organized in Masjids and in open spaces called “Eidgah’s”. Sholakia (শোলাকিয়া) Eidgah is the place where the largest congregation of Eid prayer of Bangladesh is held on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. In Indian Bengal (PoschimBongo) special Eid prayer is held on Red Road of Kolkata.

Eid is the time for “Edi” for children, the time to forget old grudges and ill feelings towards other fellow men, it is also the time to visit graveyards to remember the departed family members,  and how can we forget special “Shemai (সেমাই)” of Eid…! 


Eid Mubarak to everyone | বিশ্বজুড়ে সবাইকে জানাই ঈদের শুভেচ্ছা

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Only BENGAL, not West Bengal !


Since India's Independence in 1947, Western half of Bengal was integrated with India and was named as West Bengal though it had no Eastern half within the country's border ! East Bengal had then become a separate nation - which later proudly came to be known as the "Bangladesh" ("The Bengali Nation") in 1971. But, the Indian portion of Bengal was and is still being called "West Bengal".  But why ???



Why refer it as "West Bengal"? when there's no existing "East Bengal" in India?. Sounds completely illogical.... right?
To cut it short and make it simple- "West Bengal" doesn't make any sense today.... Think over it! its completely Irrational and illogical. We can never be "East Bengalis" or "West Bengalis"  We'r all just "Bengalis"  no matter we'r from East or West  - Its as simple as that ! The mere term "West" reminds us of the grim past and the sad memories of Partition of United Bengal. It also brings the debate of "Epar Bangalee and Opar Bangalee" Today the youth wants to be United and we have grown out of the "Epar Bangalee and Opar Bangalee" mindset, we want one identity that's being "Bengali".






In "Jana Gana Mana", India's national anthem, Rabindranath Tagore calls the land "Bongo (বঙ্গ )". In protest against the partition of Bengal in 1905, he had composed "Amar Shonar Bangla", thus referring to the land as "Bangla". The newly created country of Bangladesh adopted this song as its national anthem in 1972, but India and the Indian part of Bengal have failed to honor the spirit of his composition. It's high time we gave the state a name it deserves.




The time has arrived for giving a more meaningful and logical name to our state and to drop the prefix "West". But we also have to keep in mind that, by naming our state as just "Bengal"("Bongo" "বঙ্গ")  we would create a great conflict in our History and we cant afford to play with the heritage and history of Bengal! BENGAL is the Region of Bengali speaking people comprising of present West Bengal & Bangladesh, so Bengal is incomplete without Bangladesh and thus, we cannot  name our state as Bengal!


There are several other meaningful names:


  • Indian Bengal ("Bharatio Bongo" ভারতীও বঙ্গ)
  • Bongo Prodesh (বঙ্গ প্রদেশ)
  • Bangla Prodesh (বাংলা প্রদেশ) 


Time of India has also joined the hands and started a campaign in Kolkata which they are calling Only "Bengal”. 

You also can join the movement by just  registering your vote at www.onlybengal.com
 -জয় বাংলা | Joy Bangla