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| Chhayanaut | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chhayanaut |
| Native name | ছায়ানট |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Satyen Sen; Tapati Chowdhury; Shamsul Huda; Motia Chowdhury |
| Headquarters | Dhaka |
| Location | Dhanmondi |
| Type | Cultural organization |
| Focus | Bengali music; dance; literature; cultural heritage |
Chhayanaut Chhayanaut is a prominent cultural institution founded in 1961 in Dhaka that became a central site for preserving Bengali cultural practices during the period of the Pakistan era and after the Bangladesh Liberation War. It facilitated education in Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, classical music, and folk music, and staged large public events that intersected with movements such as the Language Movement (Bengali) and the rise of Bengali nationalism. Through concert programs, festivals, and pedagogy, the institution influenced artists associated with Bangladeshi music and connected to traditions from West Bengal, Kolkata, and the broader Indian subcontinent.
Chhayanaut emerged in 1961 amid tensions in East Pakistan where activists and intellectuals linked to figures like Zahir Raihan, Serajul Islam Choudhury, and Abul Kashem sought to protect Bengali cultural forms from state policies. Founders including Motia Chowdhury and Satyen Sen established a centre in Dhanmondi that organized salon-style gatherings, formal classes, and public observances of Bengali festivals such as Pohela Boishakh, Rabindra Jayanti, and Ekushey February. During the 1969 Mass Uprising in East Pakistan and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Chhayanaut's activities intersected with protest culture and patriotic performance, aligning with intellectual currents represented by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and cultural leaders like Niaz Mohammad Chowdhury. Post-independence, the organization expanded teaching programs and institutional partnerships with entities such as the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and international cultural festivals including those in Kolkata and London.
Chhayanaut runs structured curricula in vocal and instrumental traditions linked to teachers influenced by Ustad Alauddin Khan lineage, Kazi Nazrul Islam repertoires, and Rabindranath Tagore pedagogy. Regular offerings include beginner to advanced courses in Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Bangla folk music, Hindustani classical music, tabla, and sitar. The institution organizes seasonal events like Pahela Baishakh concerts, annual Gaanchhabanga festivals, student recitals, and lecture-demonstrations featuring artists associated with Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and regional maestros. Chhayanaut also sponsors outreach projects in collaboration with cultural NGOs, municipal programs in Dhaka South City Corporation, and international cultural exchange delegations to places such as Paris, Berlin, and New York City.
Chhayanaut's pedagogy produced performers who joined institutions like the Bangladesh Betar and the Bangladesh Television music wings, contributing to recordings and broadcasts of Rabindra Sangeet and Nazrul Sangeet. Dance training covers styles informed by choreographers linked to Uday Shankar traditions, Kathak exponents such as Birju Maharaj influences, and folk forms including Baul and Bhawaiya. The organization revived ritual and seasonal repertoires tied to Bengali life-cycle events, drawing on archival texts from Samsad editions and manuscripts studied by scholars connected to Dhaka University and the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Notable alumni and faculty have included performers who collaborated with film directors like Satyajit Ray and composers who worked with the Indian Film Industry and the Bangladeshi film industry.
Chhayanaut’s campus in Dhanmondi comprises classrooms, a small auditorium, rehearsal halls, and a library housing scores, rare gramophone collections, and manuscripts related to Tagore and Nazrul. Performance spaces have hosted notable concerts with visiting artists from Kolkata and touring troupes from Kathmandu and Lahore. The facilities have been used for community programs coordinated with agencies such as the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Bangladesh) and event collaborations with international cultural centers like the British Council and the Goethe-Institut.
Chhayanaut’s governance has included executive committees with cultural figures, educators, and artists drawn from networks including Dhaka University, the University of Calcutta, and the National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts. Leadership has rotated among prominent musicologists, pianists, and vocalists connected to institutions like the Bangla Academy and the Shilpakala Academy. The organization maintains departments for music, dance, and literature, and collaborates with independent cultural groups such as Natyadal, Gono Natya Mancha, and festival organizers responsible for citywide programs.
Chhayanaut and its members have received awards and honors from bodies including the Ekushey Padak, the Bangladesh National Film Awards (for affiliated artists), and international cultural prizes awarded by organizations in France and India. Institutions and alumni have been recognized at events such as the Dhaka International Film Festival and by academic honors from Dhaka University and the University of Calcutta for contributions to preserving Bengali performing arts.
Chhayanaut has faced criticism over alleged politicization during periods such as the late 20th century when debates over secularism and cultural policy involved parties like the Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Critics from conservative religious groups including organizations influenced by movements in Karachi and Lahore have at times contested public performances and festival observances. Internal disputes over funding, program priorities, and affiliations with state bodies such as the Ministry of Cultural Affairs (Bangladesh) have drawn commentary from media outlets including The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, and from cultural commentators linked to Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and independent academics.
Category:Cultural organisations based in Bangladesh