Admirable Display of Islamic Calligraphy in Bangladesh National Museum in Dhaka
VognoDuut645
Admirable display of Islamic calligraphy
Fayza Haq
If one wanted to whet one's appetite on Islamic calligraphy one had only to
sail forth to National Museum's Sufia Kamal section. Here was a grand
display of calligraphy on canvas, cloth and paper by Bangladeshi
(self-taught and BAFA trained) and Iranian experts.
Along with these calligraphy works was the display of the Quran from 40
different countries, published in places like USSR, USA, Europe, Middle
East, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. This was indeed a recent,
ambitious project, and won the appreciation of a flood of visitors.
The Bangladeshi artists spoke with confidence and sensitivity, explaining
the details of their work -- as regards colour, line, content, theme. They
explained the verses, words and images on the painting without a pause, and
with considerable poise and emotion. Mansoor, who organised the exhibit,
also held forth, ad lib, explaining each Bangladeshi display with meticulous
care. The visitors appeared to take great interest in the different entries
and asked the organisers a series of relevant questions, which spoke of
their intense interest and curiosity.
This was despite the compelling afternoon heat that gripped the city this
month. Sure, this exhibit was not as interesting as the early ones at the
National Museum, such as the one by Murtaja Baseer, and the one held two
years back. Yet, since numerous samples of the Quran had been included, the
number of visitors far surpassed the turnouts on other occasions of Islamic
calligraphy exhibits in the city.
The lines were positively lyrical: this was one of the necessary ingredients
of Islamic calligraphy, which replaces flora and fauna for many of original
Islamic art. There was a departure in presenting human hands and figures, in
representing the five pillars of Islam , and the concept that Islamic faith
ruled the world. Words and Quranic verses were repeated in manifold ways on
the Bangladeshi canvases. The colours used were subtle yet eye-catching and
dramatic. The lines were vertical, horizontal and diagonal.
These were amalgamated with curls, sweeps and dots. Driven by passionate
beliefs and brave in their skilled work, the artists had carried on with
their work with admirable mastery. The Iranian calligraphy was more
conventional and done on more minute perspective. The lines of the lettering
and the space of the frames were much smaller. However, the foreign entry
too was interesting. It included figurative images and fine calligraphy,
arranged in geometrical symmetry -- specially the one that appeared like
Queen Nefertite's necklace-- with the row of gold chains with delicate,
enamel work, seen from some distance.
Considerable effort must have gone into acquiring the different types of
Quran -- with their varied types of lettering, languages, origin, shapes and
sizes. As one examined each, one found that translations had been given in
most of them, along with the original text in Arabic. What was mind-boggling
were the Hindi ,Tamil and Coptic tomes. Many were illustrated around the
borders and eye-rests had been provided too. One came away from the
veritable treasure trove of Islamic art, surfeit with gain in knowledge.
koolfire_or
beggerdeshis happily sailing to National Museum's Sufia Kamal section
to witness Admirable display of Islamic calligraphy.
beggerdeshis happily sailing to National Museum's Sufia Kamal section,
http://www.iucn.org/ourwork/ppet/programme/pa2002/wl/img/managing/bangladesh.jpg
to witness the Admirable display of Islamic calligraphy.
Torpedo
Mid-Padma Crime Triangle nightmarish
for one lakh char inhabitants
From Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Apr 29:-Crime tri苔ngle has been formed in the chars of mid-stream
of the mighty river Padma consisting of pieces from Rajshahi, Natore and
Kushtia districts which has become night衫arish for about one lakh char
inhabitants.
The area with usual crime pic負ures have additional risk factor due to
smuggling network through the chars.
The area consists of parts of Gargari, Bajubagha and Pakuria unions of Bagha
thana of Rajshahi district parts of Bilmaria, Lalpur unions under Lalpur
thana of Natore district and Chilmaria, Ramkrishnapur and Philipnagar unions
of Kushtia district.
Moreover the un-demarcated char lands between the said three districts poses
threat to inhabi負ants. Localised fight for occupy虹ng khas land has ignited
race for forming terrorists groups.
One such group known as 'Panna Bahini" has created reign of terror and about
sixty families at present of Daulatpur, Lalpur and Bagha upazilas fled away
from their homestead in the char lands. The Bahini members are demand虹ng
tolls from rich families upto Tk 2 lakh. Failure to pay they will be killed
and their houses will be torched, they threatened.
Police in isolated and steray movements cannot nab them be苞ause, they move
from one district area to other district. They are also moving to Bheramara
upazila of Kushtia and Paba upazila of Rajshahi in the same char areas
stretching the mid river Padma.
So far in recent attack they ran貞acked several char villages in the area
and injured about 20 people. Ona person is still missing. They demanded one
lakh Taka from Nurul Islam and 50,000 Taka from his son Sukta.
Otherwise they will be killed within a week. They also threat苟ned Chairman
of Gargari union of Bagha upazila. He cannot even go to Gargari char area
(80 per cent of his union area) due to the threat.
The 'Panna Bahini' even do not dare to attack in the upazila Sadar in the
main land or in places where people of char took shelter.
In case of filing case they be苞ame angry. In that case they use to ransack
their char houses and loot away belongings. They kept occupied several
hundreds acres of land in char areas.
Sometimes they forcefully har赳est standing crop of others land. Police
sources in Rajshahi and Lalpur thana of Natore expressed their inability to
taking them as they are moving from one district to another.
Well placed people and elected representatives of the area, on condition of
anonymity said, only joint operation of Rajshahi, Natore and Kushtia police
may control the terrorists act. Moreover BDR should be involved as the area
has border with India and several routes of smuggling.
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