Listening to Voices of Creative Bengali Women in London

February 19, 2015 by Community Women's blog manager 2 Comments

An evening with Film, Dialogue, Music and Bangla-Feast with Creative Bengali Women speaking out against oppression and bigotry on International Women’s Day 2015

When?            8 March, Sunday, at 5pm – 9pm

Where?          Brady Arts & Community Centre, 192- 196 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5HU

Who?             Nari Diganta – the Women in Movement for Equality, Social Justice and Secularism

Nari Diganta recognises and celebrates Bengali women’s achievements and struggles in a particular field on every International Women’s Day since its foundation. In 2013 we have celebrated the success and struggles of our women in the field of education, and last year we have focused on Bangladeshi-British women’s struggle in public political sphere. This year Nari Diganta organises an evening to recognise the success and voices of creative Bengali women against bigotry and oppression. We will explore our women’s contribution in the creative field to celebrate International Women’s Day 2015 and will scrutinise BME women’s situation in Britain. You are cordially invited to this free event!

Building on their rich cultural heritage, Bengali women in the UK, particularly the new generation are taking on increasingly confident steps into the British creative landscape in the fields of literature, film making, music, dance, theatre, fine arts and other unusual creative works. Many of these outstanding talents are indigenous to Tower Hamlets. Nari Diganta undertakes a ‘talent hunt’ of creative Bengali women in Tower Hamlets and beyond to celebrate and critically examine these women’s achievements by inviting them to present their talents to a diverse audience. Our core group members and experienced women’s rights activists will engage in a dialogue with the creative women to understand how their works address issues of oppression, inequity and bigotry. This exchange of ideas will address the question as to how loud and clear our creative Bengali women’s works are in terms of addressing minority women’s oppression and bigotry in a world of injustice.

The event is Free. Its filled with fun, film, timely exchange, music and entertainment. Its a space for networking with community activists, women’s rights campaigners, and creative and cultural activists. But space is limited, so please reserve your place asap via eventribe https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-to-voices-of-creative-bengali-women-in-london-tickets-15829202571

Programme

5pm: Welcome by Nasima Kajol – ‘Greetings from the Four Years Old Child’

5:05: Opening Speech by Shamima Begum – ‘Its Time to be Loud and Clear’

5:10pm: Screening of Amazon Souls – An award winning film by Sarah Begum, a young woman exploring the Amazon and challenging the environmental destruction through creative work.

5:45pm: Creative Women’s Voices against Oppression – How Loud and Clear Do We Sound?

An Exchange of Ideas between Creative Women and Bengali Women’s Rights Campaigners

Panelists include: Classical Vocalist Chandra Chakraborty, Film-maker and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society Sarah Begum, Novelist and Author of the Golden Age Tahmima Anam, and Performer Smrity Azad.

Bengali women’s rights campaigners at Nari Diganta include Dr Rumana Hashem and Piara Mayenin.

6:40pm: ‘Needs to Move Forward with a Secular Agenda’: Remarks & Greetings by Notable Women’s Rights Campaigners

Commentators include Gita Sahgal, Writer, Film-maker, and Director of Centre for Secular Space; Maryam Namazie, Founder and Spokesperson of One Law for All & Fitnah – Movement for Women’s Liberation

6:50pm: Remarks by Special Guest, H.E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hannan, Honourable High Commissioner of Bangladesh Embassy in London (tbc)

7:00pm: Bangla Dinner with Special Guest, Creative Women and Women’s Rights Campaigners

7:40pm: Nach Gan Kabita O Bajna – Cultural Performance by Bengali Women Artists and Musicians, Presented by Munjerin Rashid & Nasima Kajol

8:40pm: End of Evening Choir – Presentation by Women in Movement for Equality, Social Justice & Secularism

&

Solo Exhibition of Painting by Syeda Nasim Queen, a young Bengali woman and a member of Nari Diganta.

This programme is designed for a diverse audience. The medium of instruction are English and Bengali. All welcome!

Note: The event will be filmed and it is open to public and mainstream media. We are unable to control press and TV crews during the event.

The event is partially sponsored by the Tower Hamlets Council, PCO Claims, Amifro Associates and Chambers of MM Hussain. With thanks to the sponsors for their kind partial sponsorship, the event is dedicated to Bengali women in the UK. Space is limited, so please reserve your place asap via eventribe https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-to-voices-of-creative-bengali-women-in-london-tickets-15829202571.Please check out our blog www.naridiganta.org.uk and FB page www.facebook.com/naridiganta for updates and further information.

Listening to creative Bengali Women’s Voices Flyer