GUWAHATI, April 4 � Calling for serious introspection before the Rongali Bihu celebrations among the artistes of the State, especially the young generation musicians, public activist Prof Deven Dutta today said that the three Bihus were rooted to the State�s agricultural and other traditional practices but the deplorable condition of agriculture and the farmers, together with the rapid erosion of local cultures due to the onslaught of westernisation, was eroding the spirit of Bihu celebrations.
In a statement, he said that barring a few exceptions a majority of the present-day artistes were totally oblivious to the perils of the degenerating circumstances, as their thoughts and deeds exposed a bankrupt ideology. He said that the growing commercialisation of the Bihu festivities including the trend of making a prolonged celebration of the Bohag Bihu for months together in the form of �Bohagi Bidai� was causing an irreparable damage to the hallowed occasion.
�The commercialisation of the Bihu has effectively given the so-called corporate sponsors and the trading community to pass on the burden to the common man who ends up paying exorbitant prices for essential commodities,� he said.
Prof Dutta said that the State�s agricultural land was rapidly eroding due to flood and erosion besides encroachment by neighbouring States, and rampant corruption in the Agriculture Department was hitting the sector hard. �The entire situation is destructive to the growth of agriculture, and without agriculture the future of the Bihu is bleak,� he said.
Urging artistes to be socially more responsible in view of the ominous portents, Prof Dutta said that art and culture could thrive only in a situation characterised by a healthy social and political environment. He said that it was possible to be politically conscious and active even without being a member of a political party. �The political sphere should not be allowed to be a fiefdom of scoundrels alone,� he said.
GUWAHATI, April 4 � Calling for serious introspection before the Rongali Bihu celebrations among the artistes of the State, especially the young generation musicians, public activist Prof Deven Dutta today said that the three Bihus were rooted to the State�s agricultural and other traditional practices but the deplorable condition of agriculture and the farmers, together with the rapid erosion of local cultures due to the onslaught of westernisation, was eroding the spirit of Bihu celebrations.
In a statement, he said that barring a few exceptions a majority of the present-day artistes were totally oblivious to the perils of the degenerating circumstances, as their thoughts and deeds exposed a bankrupt ideology. He said that the growing commercialisation of the Bihu festivities including the trend of making a prolonged celebration of the Bohag Bihu for months together in the form of �Bohagi Bidai� was causing an irreparable damage to the hallowed occasion.
�The commercialisation of the Bihu has effectively given the so-called corporate sponsors and the trading community to pass on the burden to the common man who ends up paying exorbitant prices for essential commodities,� he said.
Prof Dutta said that the State�s agricultural land was rapidly eroding due to flood and erosion besides encroachment by neighbouring States, and rampant corruption in the Agriculture Department was hitting the sector hard. �The entire situation is destructive to the growth of agriculture, and without agriculture the future of the Bihu is bleak,� he said.
Urging artistes to be socially more responsible in view of the ominous portents, Prof Dutta said that art and culture could thrive only in a situation characterised by a healthy social and political environment. He said that it was possible to be politically conscious and active even without being a member of a political party. �The political sphere should not be allowed to be a fiefdom of scoundrels alone,� he said.
