Listening to Voices of Creative Bengali Women in London
An evening with Film, Dialogue, Music, and Bangla-Feast with Creative Bengali Women on
International Women’s Day 2015
When? 8 March, Sunday, at 5pm – 9pm
Where? Brady Arts Centre, 192- 196 Hanbury Street, London, E1 5HU
Who? Nari Diganta – the Women in Movement for Equality, Social Justice and Secularism
Nari Diganta recognises and celebrates Bengali women’s achievements and struggles in a particular field on every International Women’s Day since its foundation. In 2013 we have celebrated the success and struggles of our women in the field of education, and last year we have focused on Bangladeshi-British women’s struggle in public political sphere. This year Nari Diganta organises an evening to recognise the success and voices of creative Bengali women against bigotry and oppression. We will explore our women’s contribution in the creative field to celebrate and scrutinise the International Women’s Day 2015. You are cordially invited to this free event!
Building on their rich cultural heritage, Bengali women in the UK, particularly the new generation are taking on increasingly confident steps into the British creative landscape in the fields of literature, film making, music, dance, theatre, fine arts and other unusual creative works. Many of these outstanding talents are indigenous to Tower Hamlets. Nari Diganta undertakes a ‘talent hunt’ of creative Bengali women in Tower Hamlets and beyond to celebrate and critically examine these women’s achievements by inviting them to present their talents to a diverse audience. Our core group members and experienced women’s rights activists will engage in a dialogue with the creative women to understand how their works address issues of oppression, inequity and bigotry. This exchange of ideas will address the question as to how loud and clear our creative Bengali women’s works are in terms of addressing minority women’s oppression and bigotry in a world of injustice.
The event is Free. Its filled with fun, film, timely exchange, music and entertainment. But space is limited, so please reserve your place asap.
Programme
5pm: Welcome by Nasima Kajol ‘Greetings from the Four Years Old Nari Diganta’
5:05: Opening Speech by Shamima Begum – ‘Its Time to be Loud and Clear’
5:10pm: Screening of Amazon Souls – An award winning film by Sarah Begum, young British-Bengali woman exploring the Amazon and challenging the environmental destruction through creative work
5:45pm: Creative Women Voices against Oppression – How Loud and Clear Do We Sound?
An Exchange of Ideas between Creative Women and Bengali Women’s Rights Campaigners
6:40pm: ‘Needs to Move Forward’: Commentary by BME Women’s Rights Campaigners
Gita Sahgal and Maryam Namazie
6:50pm: Remarks by Special Guest, High Commissioner of Bangladesh Embassy in London
7:00pm: Bangla Dinner with Special Guest, Creative Women and Women’s Rights Campaigners
7:40pm: Nach Gan Kabita O Bajna – Performance by Bengali Women Artists and Musicians
8:40pm: End of Evening Choir – Presentation by Women in Movement for Equality, Social Justice & Secularism
This programme is intended for a diverse audience and the medium of instruction are English and Bangla. All welcome!
Note: The event will be filmed and it is open to public and mainstream media. Please check out www.naridiganta.org.uk and www.facebook.com/naridiganta for updates and further information.