Raj Dutta

BANGLADESH CONSULATE INVITES VETERANS

FOR POILA BAISHAKH

Baisakhi, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April and sometimes 14 April as a celebration of spring harvest primarily in Northern India. Further, other Indian cultures and diaspora celebrate this festival too. Bengalis from India and Bangladesh celebrate it with great pomp and show as “Poila Baishakh”

PRELUDE

A week prior to Baishakhi, the Dep High Commissioner of Bangladesh H.E. Mr Chiranjib Sarker called up Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC, inviting a few Veterans to partake in their celebrations at Roof Top of 8 Jolly Maker, Cuffe Parade on the evening of 14 Apr 2022. A small karaoke revelry from us veterans was an added flavour to the Bengali cultural gala.

At this point of time, it would be prudent for us to get acquainted with the impressive profile the DHC, Mr Chiranjib Sarker is blessed with.

Name : Chiranjib Sarker

Father’s Name : Late Sanker Lal Sarker

Mother’s Name : Mrs. Minoti Rani Ghosh

Spouse’s Name : Mrs. Anjana Roy

Date of Birth : 01-01-1970

Place of Birth : Baisari, Barisal.

Permanent Address : Village & Post- Baisari, District- Barisal, Country- Bangladesh.

Educational Qualification : Passed from Dhaka University with Physics major.

Hobby : Reading, Writing & Travelling Children : Fiji Sarker (Daughter) and Atri Sarker (Son)

Career Profile:

Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, June 2001

Third & Second Secretary, Bangladesh Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan From January 1999

First Secretary, Bangladesh Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam From 2001 – 2004

Director (Consular), Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Counsellor, Bangladesh Embassy in Madrid Spain

Counsellor & Minister, Bangladesh High Commission Nairobi, Kenya

Worked at MOFA, Dhaka as Director General (Consular & Welfare)

Former Deputy High Commissioner and Minister at Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa From 2019

Presently serving as Deputy High Commissioner at Bangladesh Deputy High Commission Mumbai, India From 21 January 2022

ROOF TOP BAISHAKHI CELEBRATIONS

Meena and I left our Borivali home well in time to reach our Cuffe Parade destination, negotiating the customary heavy afternoon traffic at the WEH. The consulate staff promptly assisted us in parking our Car. We were warmly greeted at the Porch by the beautiful Ms Pooja Shinde, the Consulate customer relations executive. The DHC Shri Chiranjib Sarker welcomed us at the ground floor lobby. After the exchange of Poila Baishak greetings we were directed to the Roof Top. The top enclosure was well decored with round tables and VIP seating for about 30, facing a small make-shift stage. Soon the Roof Top was abuzz with Veterans with spouses and a few members from other consulates. Shri Chiranjib Sarker took to stage to welcome all present to the New Year function and handed over to Mistress of Ceremony, Elegant Miss Maitri Khedekar for the conduct of the cultural extravaganza by dancers of Nrityanjali troop under Dr Tushar Guha, Mrs Radha Guha and their talented daughter Dr Anonna Guha. Their granddaughter, 9yrs young Adriti Dutta is blessed with a very melodious voice and she crooned 2 lovely Bengali songs. Mrs Maitri’s introductions to the dance items added a cherry to the wonderful performances. The dancers were a class apart in elegance and transported the spectators to the farms and fields, relevant to the harvesting festival, Baishakhi (Photos and videos below).

Cultural Dance items in order of Performances

1. Welcome the New Year- Esho He Boishakh

2. Ustav - Dhitam Dhitam Bole

3. Baul Nritya

4. Brotochari Nritya

5. Meghero Damaru

6. Baje Go Bina

7. Songs by child artiste

8. Rejoice with Boishak-– Ailo, Ailo Re

Artistes of Dr Tushar Guha's Nrityanjali: Dr. Tushar Guha, Dr Anonna Guha, Balkrishana Sawant, Parmeshavran, Dinesh Singh, Madhavan, Manjula Parashram, Vinaya Keni, Neha Valmiki, Sanah Parab, Aditri Dutta. Anchor : Maitri Khedekar Back stage management stage :Mrs Radha Guha , Sreekala Velambat, Aditya Parui, Baban

The cultural program was followed by a few old Karaoke numbers by Cdr Vijay Vadhera, Cdr Ritesh Menon, Cdr Anoop Verma, Cdr Raj Dutta, Mrs Mukti Ghosh and Mrs Meenakshi Verma.

Karaoke songs in order of Performances

1) Solo by Commander Vijay Vadhera= Pukarta Chala hoon main

2) Duet by Cdr Ritesh Menon & Mrs Mukti Ghosh = Yeh Raatain Yeh Mausam Nadi Ka Kinara

3) Solo by Mrs Mukti Ghosh = Lolita Oke Aat Chole Jete Bolna (Bengali Song)

4) Duet by Cdr Vijay Vadhera & Mrs Meenakshi Verma = Yaad kiya Dil ne kahan ho tum

5) Solo by Cdr Raj Dutta = Bequerar Karke hame yu na jaiye

6) Solo by Cdr Anoop Verma, “Bhanware ki Gunjan”

7) Solo by Cdr Ritesh Menon, “Pal pal Dil ke pas”

Cdr Vijay Vadhera in his Vote of Thanks acknowledged the incredible performances by the dancers to make the Poila Baishakh event even more colourful. He expressed gratefulness to H.E. DHC for making the Veterans a part of their celebrations.

The cultural gala was followed by delectable dinner at the lobby below. Even as the visitors interacted with each other in merriment, Meena clicked and captured the glorious moments to edit those for a glance back in footprints of time. We gleefully thanked the DHC for the incredible and amazing evening relished in the Bangladesh consulate premises prior our departure.

Sam No Varunah

Jai Hind