Monira Islam Pappu Carving a niche in folk music

Single-mindedly following her dream to carve a niche in the world of folk music, Monira Islam Pappu has turned her passion into a profession. The artiste shared her journey with The Daily Star. Excerpts:

Photo: Prabir Das

A Correspondent

Tell us about your musical journey.
Pappu: I started learning music from a young age. I treasure those memories of Ramadan, when my sister and I used to sing Hamd along with my mother. In the beginning, I was trained by my sister. Later, to polish my skills I started training under Ustad Babu Rahman, and later under Koel Dasgupta. The journey on the path of music gathered momentum in 2006 when I joined Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Kolkata, India. I completed my Honours and Masters in Classical Music there and am now doing my PhD on folk music at RBU.
How do you think folk music can be promoted?
Pappu: Since folk music is already gaining popularity, my idea is to organise a Baul festival where Bauls from all over the country will present their rich heritage. Plus, we can honour and recognise their contributions, so that we can inspire the younger generation to develop their skills in folk music.
What can be done to popularise Bangladeshi folk music internationally?
Pappu: Festivals help popularise folk music internationally. We also have to create a craze for folk music. If we modernise the songs without ruining their original essence, it will help in two ways. Firstly, if the songs earn the tagline of popularity it will help to redefine the songs in a new manner. In my view, if we stay rigid in terms of modernising folk music, it will be tough to keep this genre alive as the number of listeners will dwindle.

Remark on judiciary: SC rejects Fakhrul’s explanation again

The Supreme Court orders BNP leader Fakhrul to submit a fresh explanation specifying the reasons for making his reported comments about the judiciary by next Monday. Star file photo

Star Online Report

The Supreme Court today again refused to accept BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s explanation on his comment about the judiciary.
The court ordered Fakhrul to submit a fresh explanation specifying the reasons for making his reported comments about the judiciary by next Monday.
Fakhrul yesterday submitted an explanation in which the reason for making such comment was not mentioned, his lawyer Sagir Hossain Leon told The Daily Star.
A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kuman Sinha, passed the order while dealing with three bail petitions filed by Fakhrul in three cases.
Earlier on February 22, the apex court had refused to accept the explanation of Fakhrul as the affidavit containing the explanation was not signed by Fakhrul.
Fakhrul on February 7 told a public meeting in Sylhet that the government is trying to control the judiciary.
On February 18, the SC asked the BNP leader to submit an explanation on his comments before this court.

Media was forced to publish lies after 1/11 changeover: Inu

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Thursday, February 25, 2016, says that The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam’s recent comment reveals that the mass media was forced to publish lies, distorted and partial information during the 2007-2008 caretaker government. Photo: TV grab

Star Online Report

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu today said that The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam’s recent comment reveals that the mass media was forced to publish lies, and distorted and partial information during the 2007-2008 caretaker government regime.
“After the One-Eleven change-over, pressure was mounted on the mass media, which came out through the comment of Mahfuz Anam. It has now been disclosed how the mass media was forced to publish lies, distorted and partial information and incidents of character assassination,” he said while addressing a press briefing at the Secretariat. 
Amnesty International did not issue any statement during that time criticising these abnormal incidents of repression on the mass media, the minister said as he was critising AI report issued on Tuesday.
Inu said the statements issued by several international organisations including Amnesty International on Mahfuz Anam are nothing but crocodile tears.
Terming Amnesty’s report as “one-eyed”, Inu said the organisation had taken position against Bangladesh’s democratic system.
Amnesty report published Tuesday is fragmented, motivated and the real incident was not represented, the minister alleged.
The minister denied an Amnesty claim that no-one directly involved in petrol bomb attacks and violence during the anti-government movement by the BNP was brought to justice.
Total 597 people were caught red handed while throwing petrol bombs. Among them, 363 were activists of BNP while 205 of Jamaat—e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Inu said like politicians, newspaper editors also have to keep a minimum ethical standard. It politicians are criticised for their ethics, newspaper editors can also be criticised for it.
The prime minister’s statement on Mahfuz Anam, the editor and publisher of The Daily Star, was not an expression of anger, it was about the undemocratic activities of the military-backed One-Eleven government, he said.
Referring to defamation and sedition pleas filed against the Anam, he said the government itself had not taken any step against the Daily Star editor. It is the aggrieved citizens who are filing those, he added.
Asked about an alleged directive to the private business owners on not giving advertisements to The Daily Star and Bangla daily Prothom Alo, he said that the government had not issued any such directive. “The government has no jurisdiction to control advertisement.”
The minister also claimed today that the mass media is now enjoying highest freedom in the country’s history. The government has no policy or taken any measures to control it, he added.