Photo: Collected
Bonomali Shilpakala Kendra, located in Pabna city, has contributed immensely to preserving the tradition of literary and cultural practices in the district. Various programs are regularly staged under the patronage of the pioneer cultural center, as this institution provides financial incentives to organizations along with training in different streams of culture.
On March 5, the beacon of cultural practice in Pabna district, Bonomali Shilpakala Kendra, completed the centenary of its establishment. Cultural activists in the district take pride in this long journey.
Pabna district has a rich history of literary and cultural practices. Many talented artists, poets, and writers were born in this district. Several drama, music, dance, and recital organizations are actively working in the region. Bonomali Shilpakala Kendra has kept the trend of cultural practice active in the district by facilitating an auditorium.
By studying the history of the organization's foundation period and later period, it was learned that Khitish Roy and Radhika Roy, the two sons of the zamindar of Pabna, Rai Bahadur Bonomali Roy, were culture-minded. They are the ones who established Bonomali Shilpakala Kendra on March 5, 1924, in the name of their father, to promote and encourage cultural practices. A huge auditorium was built on 39-decimal land. At that time, it was called Bonomali Ranga Mancha. Later, it was renamed the Bonomali Institute. Since then, the institution has been making important contributions to cultural activities.
Actors from Kolkata, such as Chhobi Biswas, Robi Roy, and Mamata Banerjee came to act in the play titled ‘Sita’, produced by Bonomali. Bengali film legend Suchitra Sen has participated in multiple events arranged by the Bonomali Institute. In 1985, an inter-district theater festival was held under the initiative of Bonomali, where 33 theater troupes participated.
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