Bulbul Chowdhury
Encyclopedia
Bulbul Chowdhury, born Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury (Jan 1, 1919 – May 17, 1954), was a Bengali
dancer of British India, and later East Pakistan
. He is primarily regarded as a pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh, as a founding figure of dance among the conservative Muslim community in undivided Bengal, and later East Pakistan.
tradition, he challenged conservative Muslim attitudes towards dance, and helped in making dance gain social respectability and popularity.
, in January 1, 1919. He was home tutored in Arabic and Persian. Later he would attend the Howrah Primary School, and the Manikganj High School from where he matriculated in 1934. He would later earn an undergraduate degree from the Scottish Church College in 1938, and a postgraduate degree in arts from the University of Calcutta
in 1943.
During the course of his secondary and graduate education in Calcutta, he came in contact with reputed artists, like Santosh Chandra, the sarod
player, the composer Timir Baran Bhattacharya, and dancers Uday Shankar
and Sadhana Bose. These contacts spurred his desire to excel as a dancer. He got his break in 1936, when he was given the chance to perform with danseuse Sadhana Bose in
the Rabindra Nritya Natya
Kach O Devajani. To avoid the conservative gaze of contemporary conservative Muslims, he took the pseudonym Bulbul Chowdhury. In 1937, he also helped in founding the Oriental Fine Arts Association.
, he relocated to Dhaka in 1940 with his troupe where he performed a number of dance dramas. After independence, he performed in several dance concerts in both parts of Pakistan, followed by trips to Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and France. He also wrote and choreographed 70 dance dramas.
Bengali people
The Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
dancer of British India, and later East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
. He is primarily regarded as a pioneer of modern dance in Bangladesh, as a founding figure of dance among the conservative Muslim community in undivided Bengal, and later East Pakistan.
Career
After independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, he was declared as the National Dancer of Pakistan in 1949. By situating dance as part of the MughalMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
tradition, he challenged conservative Muslim attitudes towards dance, and helped in making dance gain social respectability and popularity.
Early life
He was born in a village in ChittagongChittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
, in January 1, 1919. He was home tutored in Arabic and Persian. Later he would attend the Howrah Primary School, and the Manikganj High School from where he matriculated in 1934. He would later earn an undergraduate degree from the Scottish Church College in 1938, and a postgraduate degree in arts from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
in 1943.
During the course of his secondary and graduate education in Calcutta, he came in contact with reputed artists, like Santosh Chandra, the sarod
Sarod
The sarod is a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is the most popular and prominent instrument in the classical music of Hindustan...
player, the composer Timir Baran Bhattacharya, and dancers Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar , the pioneer of modern dance in India, and a world renowned Indian dancer and choreographer, was most known for adapting Western theatrical techniques to traditional Indian classical dance, imbued with elements of Indian classical, folk, and tribal dance, thus laying the roots of...
and Sadhana Bose. These contacts spurred his desire to excel as a dancer. He got his break in 1936, when he was given the chance to perform with danseuse Sadhana Bose in
the Rabindra Nritya Natya
Rabindra Nritya Natya
Rabindra nritya natya is the term given to the three dance-dramas composed by Bengal's poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore: Chitrangada, Chandalika and Shyama. The principal characteristic of these works is that the story is told entirely through dance and song. The dances included in them were in...
Kach O Devajani. To avoid the conservative gaze of contemporary conservative Muslims, he took the pseudonym Bulbul Chowdhury. In 1937, he also helped in founding the Oriental Fine Arts Association.
Later life
Following the outbreak of the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he relocated to Dhaka in 1940 with his troupe where he performed a number of dance dramas. After independence, he performed in several dance concerts in both parts of Pakistan, followed by trips to Britain, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and France. He also wrote and choreographed 70 dance dramas.