Cultural activists and a researcher on Wednesday said that composer, lyricist, poet and writer Salil Chowdhury鈥檚 works were still relevant because common people are still fighting for their basic needs and rights.
Although people's songs are popular among the masses, they are yet to be recognised as an independent genre, as the ruling class people do not tolerate the subjects of the songs, they said. 聽聽聽
They made the remarks at the birth centenary event titled Satata Salil organised by the Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital.
The event consisted of rendering Salil Chowdhury鈥檚 songs, dances, and poem recitations with a discussion participated by people's song researcher and singer Saim Rana.
Udichi acting president Habibul Alam聽chaired the programme.
Udichi general secretary Jamshed Anwar Topon said that people's songs are used in different cultural and political movements, and Salil Chowdhury is one of the greatest musicians in this popular genre.
Saim Rana said that Salil used slogans as songs and his bold lyrics with diverse tunes are appreciated by the masses.
Salil鈥檚 songs inspired masses of people to participate in mass movements, he said.
Salil Chowdhury was born on November 19, 1925 in South 24 Parganas of Bengal Presidency in British India and died on September 5, 1995 in Kolkata, the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal.
