12 years ago in 2009, an indigenous band was created that bubbled like an inspiration for all the indigenous communities that is still continued. Youngstars look up to this band for their dictation not only for CHT but also people in the plain area.
"Madal" is an musical instrument used in Folk songs which works as rhythm keeper. Not only that, for the indigenous communities in Bangladesh it is waffled not only in the festives but for a long time, it was also used as war drumbeat or in revolts and it's history and object are getting protected by the success of the indigenous based band 'Madal' that is talking about the history of opressions, sufferings, revolts of the people. Madal is not for the indigenous communities particularly but for all the people who are marginalised.
The band's one of the songs named 'Karnaphulir kanna' shows the history of eviction of 100,000 indigenous people from Kaptai for the establishment of 'Kaptai Dam' by the then Government in 1961 who were not even compensated enough which submerged about 655 sq kilometers area that consisted of 40% cultivable land. As a result many became Migrants of the neighbouring countries and many became homeless and financially broken. The song also brings out the historic affairs happened in Madhupur, Naogaon and so on. It was the band's first fundamental song written by the members.
' ওরে ও প্রিয় মাতৃভূমি, আর কতকাল রক্ত দিব তোমার বুকেতে'
' o dear motherland! How long must we bleed in your land! ' tells the continuous battle for the rights of people.
'Madal' band consists of different raced members Chakma, Marma, Bawm etc and also Singh from plain area. The members are namely Sham Sagar Mankin ( main vocalist), Horendranath Singh ( on madal), Antony Rema ( drummer), guitarists Antar Sku, Ritan Chakma, U sway Sing Marma and Joel chakma as their manager.
The journey of thw band started when Horendranath Singh, Riton Chakma, Sham Sagar Mankin were students of Rajshahi University and members continued to add with time. At that time, the indigenous students would hardly get chance to go for higher studies as the habitants of outlined areas and the represention of indigenous cultures, languages were not fully acknowledged to all. In a stage drama called 'Ujar', Horendranath Singh was criticised much for playing a role of indigenous youth when the idea of creating own band came to the members mind which will be solely based on indigenous people only. As for guitarist Riton Chakma of whom we got the pleasure to interview informed us about this incident too. Some of them were engaged with the cultural organisations like 'Udichi', 'Arani' where there was very little scope to represent the Adivashis. So, they made a plan to create one indigenous centralized band to have their own voice by forming a cultural troop which later emerged as 'Madal' band.
The first concert of the band was against the incidents of eviction and conflagration in indigenous villages happened in Baghachari. The reaction of the audience was supportive as we get to know from Riton Chakma where even the friends, students and teachers were helpful towards them. They got applauds and appreciation from the intellectuals too and also sometimes, some fun parts about having been driven away for disturbing the study of students outside libraries are reminiscence worthy. The band focuses on singing in Bengali as it’s the state language and so it will reach out to all the classes of people. From the very first time, they emphasised on the songs about marginalised groups, on the folk songs by reanimating them from different places all over Bangladesh. Within this time, Madal has more than 16 songs written and attuned by them fundamentally.
The hardships about ups and downs of the band after the graduation of the members are also noticed. According to the guest of interview Riton Chakma, he says it to be the turning point of their band when they were invited to perform a concert in Narayanganj, Bangladesh as they performed an infamous Garo folk song there of which the response was huge.
They performed for labourers, for the sisters like Kalpana Chakma who was abducted by millitary, for M N Larma who was one of the stars guiding the path on fighting for one's rights. They made a song about Piren Snal, a young Mandi activist from Garo race who was killed by police firing in a peaceful protest against the establishment of Eco Park in Madhupur by the Forestry Department who didn’t feel the need to take permission from the residents whose existence was deeply connected with the Shawl forest.
' শাল বৃক্ষের মতো সিনা টান করে সে,
মানুষ হয়ে বাঁচতে পীরেন জান দিয়েছে' that depicts the sacrifice of couragous Piren Snal who died to live as a human being.
Madal invites the hilly young ladies to hear the lyrics about a song which comprises of the battles, the insurgency, the histories with love in the song 'Pahari Konya'. More songs like 'Aamra Adivashi' , 'Pahar hote bhese bhese ashe', 'Mukti Cai' etc make the silent voices of oppressed into living ones.
This band is a substance of encouragement for all the people regardless of race, gender, age or religion. Soon, the publication of album by Madal is desired to be a succesful one and we look forward to it with best wishes.
Written by Priase Chakma
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