Team Café
Over time, they have come to be known as the preservers of intangible
cultural heritage. This preservation has evolved into their drive to help those
in need. At this juncture, no one is in greater need than Nepal, feels the
group in question – banglanatak dot com.
Last week, the group got together with Bengali rock band
Cactus and the Calcutta Rowing Club in order to organise a concert to raise
funds for Nepal earthquake survivors. Speaking on the endeavour, Amitava
Bhattacharya, Founder and full time Director of banglanatak dot com, says,
“All of us are aware that Nepal has been devastated by the recent earthquakes. The
UN has announced that 8 million people have been affected by the earthquake and
over 1.4 million are still in need of food. As such, we at banglanatak dot com
felt that we could aid in the raising of such funds in our own way, and decided
to extend our hand in support of the people of Nepal.”
‘Bhalo Theko Nepal’ featured three headlining acts – Cactus,
Tanmoy Bose with Taal Tantra and Dhaka-based Arnob & Friends. The groups
performed at Nazrul Manch on the evening of June 5. However, with the
popularity of banglanatak dot com’s previous events that were held in Goa over
the last year only increasing, Amitava felt that there was an innate need to
stage a local edition of the fundraising event.
In keeping with this, the group along with The International
Centre Goa has put together a show for Nepal of a similar nature at Kala
Academy in Panjim on June 11 at 4-6 pm at Dinanath Mangeshkar
Kala Mandir, Kala Academy. Speaking on the details of the event, Amitava adds, “Well-known
musicians of both regions that will come together for the event include the
likes of Elvis Lobo from Goa and Arnob & Friends from Dhaka. The
show will not be ticketed and will be free to enter, though we do make an
earnest request for a donation from everyone, for a good cause.”
The entire amount
collected will, in turn, be donated to the Consul General of Nepal at Kolkata
to support relief efforts. Music for Nepal will be staged today, June 11 at
Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panjim
from 4-6 pm
