Registered under the Societies Registration Act Abbasuddin Smaran Samity has been formed with the objective of promotion and dissemination of culture with special emphasis on folk and tribal culture. The Samity has accordingly been organizing programmes on folk and tribal music and dances, lectures and seminars on folk and tribal culture from the year 1990. Every year the Samity has organized cultural programmes on 27 October to commemorate the birthday anniversary of Abbasuddin, the folk maestro of Bengal. Grassroot level artistes on folk and tribal music and dance have been brought from different districts of West Bengal as also from Bangladesh every year on that occasion. Two eminent artistes of rural Bengal on folk/tribal culture have been given felicitation every year on that occasion. Seminars have been organized on folk/tribal culture every year. The Samity completed research/survey project on ‘The Cultural Life of Tea Garden Workers of West Bengal’, financed by the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi. The Samity has also published a book on “Jaag Gaan” – an ethnic song of West Bengal. Two more projects – (1) Project on ‘cultural ethos of North Bengal’, financed by Prasar Bharati, All India Radio, Govt. of India, New Delhi & (2) Project on ‘Visual documentation of ritual songs and dances of West Bengal’, financed by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi, have been implemented by the Samity. The Samity organized a two day programme on folk and tribal music and dances financed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in April, 2001 in connection with the commemoration of birth centenary of Abbasuddin. In continuation of the programme connected with birth centenary, the Samity organized 15-day Abbas Mela on the Kolkata Maidan in February & November, 2002. More than 400 folk and tribal artistes participated in the mela during this period. Strengthening of cultural tie between West Bengal and Bangladesh has also been another objective of this organization. The Samity has continued the cultural events on the occasion of the birth day of Abbasuddin, a pioneer of folk songs of West Bengal and Bangladesh every year, where folk and tribal artists from different districts of West Bengal and Bangaladesh participate to display their cultural traits. The Samity has recently been sanctioned a project of documentation on Bhawaiya, the folk form of North Bengal by the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore. The Samity has therefore been engaged in the promotion, preservation and dissemination of folk and tribal culture and will continue its efforts in future.
