Lathi Khela With A Message
By Bipul K Debnath
Stick fighting between some girls and boys to the sound of drums could be seen at the open-air Nazrul Mancha on the Bangla Academy premises during the Dhaka Literary Festival recently. Spectators were enjoying it with much gusto. But it was not a real fight, rather a display of lathi khela by Bir Shreshtho Noor Mohammad Lathiyal Dol from Narail district. The traditional martial art is performed using bamboo sticks to the beat of dhol (drum) and kartal (brass cymbals). Lathi khela is our family tradition and I have been doing it for 30 years. But girls were not seen in this sport before. With the help of a cultural organisation, I have formed this girls lathi khela team. And now, we are here to entertain the visitors, team leader Bachchu Mia told this correspondent after the exhibition match.
Describing her experience as a lathial or stick fighter, Tania Akhter, a class-9 student of Bishnupur Hamidpur Secondary High School and a member of the team, said: I have been performing lathi khela for five years. I feel good doing it.
Akhter wants to convey an important message through lathi khela: My message is that not only boys, but girls can contribute to the society as well. Girls were restricted from leaving the house before. Some couldnt study even. Now, girls have proven their potential. They want to live with pride. Girls are no longer inferior to boys in any terms. See, I am a girl and I practise lathi khela. I want to make boys understand that they should respect girls. We see boys teasing us when we are going to school. I want them to give up such bad behaviour.
Monalisa Khatun, another team member, added: Both of us are practising lathi khela with great enthusiasm. We want to take this traditional sport to the national and international stage in future. I believe girls will enjoy a more dignified life through lathi khela.
Kazi Sameeo was visiting the Dhaka Lit Fest on November 17 with his two young sons. Today, I have brought my twins, Shopno and Srijon. We have come here to get a glimpse of our culture. Lathi khela is one of the golden heritages of our country. It is not just fighting. It shows discipline and strength. The fighting doesnt mean to hurt anyone; it just develops ones inner strength. I hope they enjoy it, said Sameeo, a senior research fellow at CARASS (Centre for Advanced Research in Arts and Social Sciences) of University of Dhaka.
About promoting this cultural heritage, the researcher added: Of course, it should be promoted. Like Chinese acrobatics, lathi khela is also a powerful form of entertainment. At present, it is about to go extinct. So, the authorities concerned should take urgent measures to preserve it.
Regarding the challenges of forming a girls lathial team, Bachchu Mia said: All the girls are my own relatives. For that, I havent faced any problems. But honestly, if I want to recruit girls from the outside, definitely I would face several questions. Our society didnt allow girls to perform this sport till now. People think there will be no fruitful outcome from it. The lathial group from Narail has 25 members, six of whom are girls.
We are thankful to the organising committee of this festival. Bangla Academy is a national institution. We feel honoured to perform here. We want to take part in every national event, said the 45-year-old team leader, who is also a furniture dealer.
About sponsors and facilities required to sustain the traditional sport, Anisur Rahman, a coordinator of the team, said: It is challenging to maintain any cultural or traditional sport group now. The monetary problem is foremost. If we get support, definitely we can entertain people with better performances. If the authorities take the game to the national level, girls will feel more interested to take part in it. We want a training centre in our locality where we can practise it properly.
Shadhona Cultural Circle has been working with the lathial group for the past 10 years. We provide them with funds so they can continue the sport. And we encouraged them to form a girls team. Six young girls have started to play the game and they are doing well. We hope more girls will join in future, said Labonno Sultana, a dancer with Shadhona, a Dhaka-based cultural centre that support the team.
In a telephone conversation, M Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, deputy commissioner of Narail, told The Weekend Independent: We always encourage our local lathi khela teams to participate in events like Sultan Mela (fair), Bijoy Sarker Mela, and other national festivals. As I am new here, I have to know more about the girls team. If the members of Bir Shreshtho Noor Mohammad Lathiyal Dol come to us, we will consider their demand.
Photos: Courtesy
