Feature

Prize Giving Ceremony of Book Reading
Programme-2010 of Bishwo Sahitto Kendro

Md. Saimum Reza Talukder

IT was Prof. Abdullah Abu Sayeed who once said that if we want to become dignified human beings, we must keep in touch with the noble things. Narrow-minded people and big nation cannot run parallel. So, people must be broad-minded in order to build a great nation. Thus, it is necessary that one indulges in greater things, such as books. Book contains all the knowledge of human civilization. That is why Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (Bishake) is trying to enlighten individuals through reading books with the theme 'Alokito Manush Chai' (we want enlightened individuals).

It was the prize giving ceremony of the Book Reading Programme-2010 of Bishwo Sahitto Kendro, which was held on 22 and 23 January at Ramana Batamul, Dhaka. Out of 25,000 students from 100 schools of Dhaka city, 5362 students were awarded with books as a part of nation-wide enrichment programme. The two-day long prize giving ceremony was held in 3 shifts where renowned intellectuals, academics, media personalities and cultural activists distributed prizes among the students.

The prizes were given based on four categories. One of the schools received an extra prize through lottery for each 15 students awarded with the highest prize. Six guardians also received books through the lottery in three shifts. The attractive part was that, two students from each shift were selected to travel to India and Nepal through lottery. They will travel different tourist spots of India and Nepal by the courtesy of Bishake.

Despite the cold weather, students started to gather at the Ramna Batamul early in the morning where the programme started with the Tagore song 'Alo Amar Alo' used as the theme song of Bishake. The seat plans for students were arranged according to their schools. They cheered every time their names were called or guests commented on something interesting or at times without any reason, which came from deep inside of their heart.

On the first day, noted Writer Prof. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said that the Kendra has done something that should have been done by the government. He expressed his faith upon the students of Bishake who will remove all the corruption of the country.

In his opinion, Writer Anisul Haque mentioned that he hopes that Bishake students will change the country within the next 20 years as they are already well situated in every corner of the globe.

“The word Engineer doesn't only mean that you have to make steel or concrete structures. If you become enlightened and start spreading the light of your knowledge that means that you are the engineer of the nation”, said Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.

Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo Matiur Rahman, eminent writers Selina Hossain, Imdadul Haque Milon, Actor Kahirul Anam Sabuj and Economist Prof Anisur Rahman were also present as Special Guests.

On the second day, Media personality Ali Imam said that this was the greatest show he has seen in his entire media life where students are committed to remove the darkness by their light of knowledge while Architect Mobassher Hossain and Media personality Abdun Nur Tushar vowed the students to be prepared to serve the country at any time of need and crises.

Elma Wazed, a grade IV student from Viqarunnisa Noon School came to the programme with her sister who won one of the Bishake prizes. Elma was so excited to see the joyful atmosphere that she showed her enthusiasm by saying that her parents always wanted her to read a variety of books and that she wanted to take part in the Bishake programme in the future.

Ferdousi Begum brought her daughter who received a prize, urged the guardians that they should encourage their children to take part in different activities such as the book-reading programme of Bishake. Kuhu Mannan, an organizer from Bishake, said that whenever she watches the thousands of students with books in hand, it makes her nostalgic about her past days in Bishake while attending the programme.

Bruno and Joselle, a couple from Switzerland, were crossing the Ramna Batamul could not help but stop themselves to take a look at the ceremony. They were really amazed to see the smiling faces of the students glittering under the sunshine. They opined that in today's world, people are gradually becoming dependent on the internet or televison that one day our next generation might forget the smell of new books. So, Bishake is doing a great thing to give the books in the hands of children despite the huge obstacles they have to face. However, according to them, it is the easiest, cheapest and most effective way they have ever seen.

The two day the programme came to an end in the evening with the lighting up of candles by all the students, guardians, guests with the Bishake theme song. Grameen Phone was the sponsor of the prize giving ceremony while books were provided by the courtesy of Delta Life Insurance Company Limited.

(The writer is a School Organizer, Bishake and Student of Law, University of Chittagong.)