I had the opportunity to perform in “প্রাণের টানে মাটির গান”, the first event under ReEarth Club, BRUR’s Roots of Thought project.
Held at the open yard of Nagar Mirganj School, the event brought together folk songs and street theatre to engage local communities in conversations about agriculture, nature and the lives that depend on them.
As part of the street theatre, I portrayed a bird, a small but important character in a larger story about the relationship between farmers, nature and wildlife. Through the performance, we highlighted how birds, along with foxes, snakes and frogs, contribute to maintaining ecological balance and protecting agricultural fields from pests.
The performance also explored the long history of the Mahajani system and how farmers have faced exploitation through debt and unfair financial arrangements. The discussion connected this history with the newer forms of the system that farmers encounter today through different financial institutions and intermediaries.
What made the experience particularly meaningful was the opportunity to communicate these issues not through a conventional presentation but through performance, storytelling and folk culture. Theatre allowed us to bring environmental and social issues closer to the community in a way that was engaging and relatable.
Playing the role of a bird reminded me that even a seemingly small character in an ecosystem can have a meaningful role. In the same way, small acts of awareness and collective action can contribute to larger changes in our communities.
Event: প্রাণের টানে মাটির গান
Project: Roots of Thought
Venue: Nagar Mirganj School, Mahiganj, Rangpur
Role: Performer, Bird Character
Organised by: ReEarth Club, BRUR
Supported by: Bangladesh Youth Environmental Initiative (BYEI) and Roots, an initiative of Greenpeace