State Level Golden Jubilee Celebration of West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board
The State Level Golden Jubilee Celebration of West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board was held during the period from 8th March 2015 to 15th March 2015 at D. N . Mitra Square (Ganja Park), Bhowanipur, Kolkata- 20 with huge excitement and much fun fare.
On 8th March Sri Satchidananda Bandyopadhyay, Hon’ble Chairman of Kolkata Municipal Corporation inaugurated the function by lighting the Lamp. Sri Debasis Kumar, Member, MIC, Kolkata Municipal Corporation was the Guest of Honour. Sri Mrityunjoy Bandyopadhayay, Chief Executive Officer, WBKVIB greeted the Honourable Guests and the audience with his welcome speech. The whole inaguration programme was presided over by Sri Gouri Sankar Dutta, Hon’ble Chairman of WBKVIB.
Among other dignitaries Sri Harish Dey, Secretary of WBKVIB, Sri Gopal Chandra Biswas, FA & CAO of WBKVIB, Sri Haradhan Bag, Karmadhakshya, Hooghly Zilla Parisad, Sri Biswajit Sarkar, PEO of WBKVIB and Sri Darshin Bharati, Secretary of All india Gujrati Samaj and many more were present at the programme.
In his welcome speech Sri Mrityunjoy Bandyopadhyay, CEO, WBKVIB elaborating the significance of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Board, told that the main aim of the programme was to recognise and encourage the spinner, weavers and entrepreneurs attached with the Board who have exemplary contribution in developing the rural economy. Competition have been organised with these artisans and entrepreneurs. He also told that the Board is giving continuous effort to present Khadi Garments specially to the modern generation through new dimension.
Sri Satchidananda Bandyopadhyay, in his inaugural speech mentioned the historical contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle of India through Khadi Movement. He urged all to pledge in favour of use of more and more Khadi Goods. Sri Debasis Kumar, Member, MIC gave emphasis in growth of Khadi for rural employment generation.
Sri Gouri Sankar Dutta, in his presidential address mentioned the role played by the State Government specially Hon’ble Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee in the development of Khadi and Village Industries including ‘Project Muslin’. He mentioned the support of State Government in revival of Muslin, the heritage of Bengal and also development of Rural Craft and hoped that employment generation will be increased through these programmes. He also thanked all officers and staff of the Board for organising such a successful event.
Sri Harish Dey, Secretary of the Board speaking on the occasion of 8th March as ‘International Women’s Day’, raised the issue of negligence and oppression towards the women in the society. The society develops through united efforts of men and women. If the women are neglected, then the progress of society is stalled. He urged all for pledging towards eradicating the mentality of neglect to women.
In the opening ceremony, women artisans of Khadi have been felicitated by Sri Gouri Sankar Dutta and Sri Satchidananda Badyopadhyay with flower and mementoes on the occation of International Women’s Day. PEO of Khadi Board Sri Biswajt Sarkar conveyed thanks to the Guests and all the persons present on behalf of the Board.
The cultural programme of this event was unveiled in the evening of 8th March with the Spring Festival Dance by “Khoai” group of Kolkata. Smt. Sishpriya Banerjee and other member of the group presented Tagore’s Song and modern Bengali Songs.
On 9th March, Monday Dr. Rajkumar Singh and his group from Paschim Medinipur presented ‘Boul’ Song. After that, Tagore’s dance drama “Shyama” was presented by ‘Ghungur Dance Group’ of Kolkata.
On 10th March, Tuesday ‘Gokul Mudi and Group’ performed Santhali Dance and then renowned artist Najmul Haque presented Nazrul Song and Folk Song.
On 11th March, Wednesday Modern Bangla Band ‘Kolkata Music Diary’ presented their musical performance. The ‘Violina’ group’ of Hooghly staged dance performance with Violin orchestration. ‘Promoth and Group’ from Bankura presented “Chhau Dance” and “Ranpa Dance”.
On 12th March, Thursday ‘Kolkata Gujrati Samaj’ staged dance drama and presented patriotic Song to commemorate the Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi. In the later half ‘Sur O Jhankar Group’ of Hooghly presented Tagore’s Songs and Modern Songs.
On 13th March, Friday, ‘Chadar Group’ of Dakshin Dinajpur presented Puppet Show. Sri Ranjan Bhattacharjee, an employee of this Board with his daughter Antara Bhattacharjee recited “Karna Kunti Sangbad” of Rabindranath Tagore. “Nrityanir Group” of Dhaniakhali staged dance drama with Patriotic songs. After that , ‘Prasanta Seth and Party’ of Malda presented “Gambhira” dance and songs.
On 14th March, Saturday Sri Samragjni Bandyopadhyay read poems from her own composition. Bangla Band Surajit Chattopadhyay and his friends enchanted audience with their music. After that, a theatre named “ Jabab Chai” was staged by “Bhabanipur Sristi Group” with direction by Rajat Sengupta.
On15th March, Sunday, ‘Amrit Boul Lok Sanskriti’ presented Baul and folk songs. Disciple of Kelucharan Mahaparta ‘Swasati Garai Ghosh and Troop’ presented Odishi Dance. ‘Kolkata Gujrati Samaj’ of Bhowanipur organised a fashion show with Khadi Garments. At the end renowned fashion designer Sri Niloy Sengupta staged a dance based fashion show ‘Thakur Barir Sajsajja’ with a theme fashions of Thakurbari before and after of Rabindra Nath Tagore.
All the cultural programmes were highly appreciated by the audience including the local people. The whole cultural programmes were organized by Sri Swapan Biswas, Convener, Cultural Sub Committee with active support from Sri Prasanta Samanta, Convener, Infrastructure Sub Committee.
A six day long state level competition was held during the period from 9th March 2015 to 14th March 2015 with Khadi Artisans, Khadi Societies and Entrepreneurs. Competitions continued everyday from 12 noon to 5 PM. Medals, Certificates and cheques etc. were handed over to the winning candidates by officers of the Board, Judges and other Dignitaries through befitting programmes. The competitors were qualified to compete in the State Level Competition after winning District Level and Zonal Level Competitions. 120 Candidates participated in 11 categories and out of them 45 candidates were declared winners. The competitors participated with much enthusiasm. Many of them described their success stories at the stage while receiving awards. Sri Tapanjyoti Das, Convener, Competition Sub Committee was the organiser of the competition event. (List of Winners has been given separately).
After completion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration, the Member Convener of the ‘State Level Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee’ Sri Biswajit Sarkar thanked all concerned who made this occasion a huge successful one.