Lalon’s Hindi version to help popularise his compositions in India: Pranab

Indian president Pranab Mukherjee has said the translation and musical rendering of Lalon Shah’s songs into Hindi will contribute to popularise his compositions in India, reports UNB.

The Indian president made the remarks while receiving the first copies of book ‘Lalan Shah Fakir Ke Geet’ written by professor Muchkund Dubey and DVD of selected songs of Lalon Shah at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on Saturday evening.

Pranab said Rabindranath Tagore was the first to publish a significant number of songs of Lalon Shah and played a central role in bringing Lalon Shah’s compositions to a wider audience.

“Today, while Lalon Shah is an icon and Lalon geeti is in the mainstream of Bangla folk music in Bangladesh, at the same time, he is equally regarded and celebrated among Bangla knowing people of India,” Indian Press Information Bureau quoted Pranab as saying.

He congratulated professor Muchkund Dubey who had served as high commissioner of India to Bangladesh for his pioneering work and for giving an opportunity to recognise and pay tribute to Lalon Shah.

He also congratulated all for publishing the book and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations for supporting the project of producing a DVD containing the Hindi rendering by Farida Parveen.

Pranab said Farida Parveen had enthralled all at the gathering with her soulful presentation of songs of Lalon Shah both in Hindi and Bangla.

He said there is hardly any Bangalee who does not know the songs of Lalan Shah.

The Indian president said Lalon’s poetry is an invaluable treasure of the Bangla literary tradition. “This outstanding saint didn’t lean on any one religion or ideology, but picked up the best from Vaishnavism, Sahajiya Buddhism and Sufism.”

Farida Parveen voiced two Lalon songs in Hindi that concluded the ceremony.

Information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, Bangladesh high commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali,  professor emeritus Anisuzzaman, author of ‘Lalan Shah Fakir Ke Geet’ and diplomat professor Muchkund Dubey,  Lalon singer Farida Parveen along with the organisers ICCR president professor Lokesh Chandraand, Sahitya Akademi president  Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari and eminent scholars were present at the programme.