DURGA PUJA 1969 AT ELLEN KNOX MEMORIAL HALL
ASTON CROSS, BIRMINGHAM
ORGANISED BY THE MIDLAND HINDU
SOCIETY
Chief Organiser & Art Director G. Sarkar, Chairman:
Mihir Gupta, Treasurer: P. K. Chanda, Stage Artist: Allan Knight (BBC)
INCEPTION
1969 was the pre-eminent year
of the Bengali community in Birmingham with great success of Durga Puja, but
it concluded with four separate divisions among the Bengali community.The
unity of the Bengali community was completely shattered. But the passion and
enthusiasm to maintain the heritage of Bengali Culture could no longer remain
dormant. There was no meeting but the single minded conviction for the Unity
of the Bengali Families. One fine evening in 1970, it expressed itself impromptu
as a Musical Entertainment and Children's Party. The forum being "Bijoya
Sanmelani" at Youth Club in Witton, Birmingham. A modest programme was
arranged by Mr. G. Sarkar for which a hand written leaflet was distributed
and it read these great words
Organised by
"THE BENGALI ASSOCIATION"
It was a great success with
the generosity of the Bengali Community, isn't
it wonderful and true to say....
An account was opened in
the name of Bengali Association prior to "Bijoya Sanmelani" with
T.S.B.Municipal Bank (Lloyds TSB) at Witton, Birmingham. The signatories were
Mrs. S. Sarkar as Chairman and Mr. G.
Sarkar as Secretary.
1971
A series of Hall Bookings
made to promote the Bengali meetings at
DR.
JOHNSON HOUSE
(Religious
Society of Friends)
40
BULL STREET, BIRMINGHAM B4 6AF
Mr. G. Sarkar
addressing a monthly meeting at Dr. Johnson House and welcoming a new member
Mr. P. K. Das
to the club - 1971. This was a new beginning for the Bengali
Association,
the number of the membership increased and
we moved to British Council, Colmore Row, Birmingham
with the help
of Dr. S. K. Sen
(ex-president of Geeta Bhawan Mandir, Indian Worker Association and Midland
Indian Association)
1972
A senior citizen of the Bengali community Dr. S. K. Sen in discussion with
Mr.G. Sarkar for the need of the elected committee and written constitution.
At the beginning of the Bengali Association all the meetings and activities
were organised by Mr. G. Sarkar without any committee or election. The monthly
meetings used to be conducted by selected panels from the attending members.
Some Memorable Evenings
"British Council" was a memorable
Venue for us. We organised many important programmes from the British Council
for the Bengali Association. ie: The very first religious festival by the
Bengali Association - "SARASWATI PUJA" at Dyson Hall, Aston Cross.
The very best "RABINDRA JOYANTI" with Live-Dance-Drama in Birmingham
at St. Martins Church, Bullring. The very first Mega Bengali Concert by "HEMANTA
KUMAR"- a Legendary Singer at Digbeth Civic Hall etc. etc. etc. Hemanta
Kumar also appeared in Digbeth in 1974. "NIRMALENDU CHOWDHURY" -
a famous Folk Singer and his company (13 people) appeared in Digbeth Civic
Hall in 1975. We used to hold the Commercial Cinema Show at Digbeth Civic
Hall and also the Libray Film Show (ie: Netaji, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Sir
Jagadish Ch. Bose, Independance Day etc.) including the series of Satyajit
Roy's Film at Arts Lab Centre, Aston University, Gosta Green, Birmingham.
In late 1973 we have moved from British Council to " Martin Luther King
Centre" at Aston University with help of Dr. Dulal Ghose and we spent
many, many happy years with M. L. K. Centre, but were having difficulties
in finding a suitable hall to promote our Cultural and Religious Festivals
due to increased demand of participants. In the beginning we were disadvantaged
by the lack of facilities, specially a PREMISES of our own to fulfil our ambition.
Now, thanks to the group of
dedicated people ( to name a few Dhrubo Biswas, Loken Pal, Ranajit Biswas,
Robin Bose, Prodyut Das and many more) and many general members for their
hard work and intelectual contribution which was rewarded on 6th January 1999
with National Lottery Board Grant of £188000.00 to the Bengali Association
in order to enable us to have our own PREMISES.
The association is thankful
to all the members who helped in this endeavour directly or indirectly. It
was a united hard effort by each and every member.
Now the field of opportunity
has opened out to achieve our goal. Please come and join us. We invite
you to join the Bengali Association because this is the only association
in the Midlands which purport the name of your language and culture.
WE FLY YOUR FLAG WITH DIGNITY
AND MAINTAIN YOUR HERITAGE
