As homage to 'Natyacharya' Professor Selim Al Deen on his 1st death anniversary (January 14), a five-day programme titled "Selim Al Deen Swaran Utsab" begins today at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) premises. In association with Selim Al Deen Pathshala, the programme is being jointly organised by Dhaka Theatre and Bangladesh Gram Theatre. Renowned theatre personality and ITI worldwide President Ramendu Majumdar will inaugurate the programme.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
103-year-old Taramoni Das struggling for livelihood
Taramoni Dash, an old aged widow of village Baishsho Para in Mohishkhocha union of Aditmari upazila in Lalmonirhat, is still struggling for livelihood while she is at the age of 103.
Preparing different kinds of articles with bamboo is her job since her teens.
Still at the present age, she does hard toil at her hut from morning to dark producing bamboo made things like basket, dali, kula (winnowing tray), sieve and others, which brings her Tk 40 to 45 income a day to run her family.
Two years back, she earned Tk 80 to Tk 100 per day but her present income is not sufficient to cope with the increasing maintenance cost of her family.
Her income has fallen mainly because of increase in bamboo price.
She often has to pass days half fed or unfed.
Taramoni Das got married to Tarok Chandra Das, of Baishsho Para in Mohishkhocha union of Aditmari, in 1925 when she was 20.
Taramoni had used to practise preparing bamboo made things at her parents’ house at Kathal Bari village of Kurigram.
After marriage also, she continued the job to help her husband.
She became mother of five daughters and one son.
Taramoni lost her husband Tarok Chandra five years ago and since then she has been bearing the burden of the family.
The family consisting of her son Moni Das,68, his wife Biso Bala Das,62, and their son Bisso Nath Das,40, with his wife Bul Buli Das,32, live at the hut beside the road of Baishsho Para.
Taramoni Das said, ‘I look after the family as my son and grandson stay outside for job. My income from bamboo made things is too little to meet maximum demands of the family.’
‘Mostly we can’t afford good fish, meat or milk for meal,’ she added.
Biso Bala Das said, ‘I’ve now grown old. I can’t work hard as my mother-in-law can. I suffer from different diseases but she doesn’t. She can still walk like a young girl. I have never seen idleness in her. She always struggles for livelihood.’
Bulbuli Das, wife of Taramoni Das’s grandson , said, ‘People come to the house to know details about her. Sometimes, school and college going students who come here say that Taramoni Das is example to the women who are struggling to live.’
Taramoni Das receives only Tk 200 as old age allowance per month which is too insufficient for maintaining the family.
‘I get only Tk 200 old age allowance every month. I don’t get any other relief or allocation from the Union Parishad office. Nor do I approach the chairman or any member for relief.
I just prefer working than extending hand for help here and there. I wish to do work till the last day of life.’ Taramoni Das said.
She built a tin-shade hut with Tk 10,000 she saved from the old age allowance in the last two years, but she could not manage fencing of it for want of money.
Local Nishi Kanto Das said that Taramoni, the oldest woman in the locality, could peacefully survive in her last days, if the government or the well-off people came to her aid.
Preparing different kinds of articles with bamboo is her job since her teens.
Still at the present age, she does hard toil at her hut from morning to dark producing bamboo made things like basket, dali, kula (winnowing tray), sieve and others, which brings her Tk 40 to 45 income a day to run her family.
Two years back, she earned Tk 80 to Tk 100 per day but her present income is not sufficient to cope with the increasing maintenance cost of her family.
Her income has fallen mainly because of increase in bamboo price.
She often has to pass days half fed or unfed.
Taramoni Das got married to Tarok Chandra Das, of Baishsho Para in Mohishkhocha union of Aditmari, in 1925 when she was 20.
Taramoni had used to practise preparing bamboo made things at her parents’ house at Kathal Bari village of Kurigram.
After marriage also, she continued the job to help her husband.
She became mother of five daughters and one son.
Taramoni lost her husband Tarok Chandra five years ago and since then she has been bearing the burden of the family.
The family consisting of her son Moni Das,68, his wife Biso Bala Das,62, and their son Bisso Nath Das,40, with his wife Bul Buli Das,32, live at the hut beside the road of Baishsho Para.
Taramoni Das said, ‘I look after the family as my son and grandson stay outside for job. My income from bamboo made things is too little to meet maximum demands of the family.’
‘Mostly we can’t afford good fish, meat or milk for meal,’ she added.
Biso Bala Das said, ‘I’ve now grown old. I can’t work hard as my mother-in-law can. I suffer from different diseases but she doesn’t. She can still walk like a young girl. I have never seen idleness in her. She always struggles for livelihood.’
Bulbuli Das, wife of Taramoni Das’s grandson , said, ‘People come to the house to know details about her. Sometimes, school and college going students who come here say that Taramoni Das is example to the women who are struggling to live.’
Taramoni Das receives only Tk 200 as old age allowance per month which is too insufficient for maintaining the family.
‘I get only Tk 200 old age allowance every month. I don’t get any other relief or allocation from the Union Parishad office. Nor do I approach the chairman or any member for relief.
I just prefer working than extending hand for help here and there. I wish to do work till the last day of life.’ Taramoni Das said.
She built a tin-shade hut with Tk 10,000 she saved from the old age allowance in the last two years, but she could not manage fencing of it for want of money.
Local Nishi Kanto Das said that Taramoni, the oldest woman in the locality, could peacefully survive in her last days, if the government or the well-off people came to her aid.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
'I'm backing Hayden'
Justin Langer's intuition tells him Matthew Hayden will play beyond the Sydney Test, but the other half of Australia's greatest opening combination is also aware how quickly retirement plans can hatch.
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