Lubna Marium
Lubna Marium (Bengali: লুবনা মারিয়াম; born 8 July 1954) is a Bangladeshi dancer, art director, researcher and cultural activist.[1]
Lubna Marium | |
---|---|
লুবনা মারিয়াম | |
Born | July 8, 1954 |
Nationality | Bangladeshi |
Occupation(s) | Dancer, Artistic Director, Cultural Activist |
Awards | Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award (2013), Shilpakala Padak (2019), Nagad and Bangla Tribune ‘50 Years of Independence Award (2022) |
Biography
She participated in the Liberation War of 1971 by assisting in the Advanced Dressing Center at the Mohdipur Mukti Bahini Camp of Sector 7, near Chapainawabganj.[2] She was also associated with the ‘Mukti-Shongrami Shilpi Shongstha’, an artists’ group formed in Kolkata during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.[3]
From 1999 to 2005 Marium studied Sanskrit in India, after which time she returned to Bangladesh to promote dance in Bangladesh.[4]
The Government of Bangladesh awarded her the Shilpakala Padak award in 2019 for her special contribution to dance.[5][4][6] She can be seen in the popular documentary film Muktir Gaan.[7][8][9][10][11]
Personal life
Lubna is married to Jamal Ahmed Sufi, Managing Director of Charuta Private Ltd. Lubna’s father Quazi Nooruzzaman, a valiant military officer and the Commander of Sector-7 during the Liberation War in 1971, was a prominent leftist political thinker. and her mother Dr. Sultana Zaman Professor Emeritus of the University of Dhaka, was the founder of Bangladesh Protibandhi Foundation (BPF), an organization for the mentally disadvantaged population of Bangladesh. Dr. Sultana Zaman was awarded Begum Rokeya Padak in 2008 by the Government of Bangladesh. Her daughter Anusheh Anadil is a Bangladeshi musician, artist, and cultural activist. Lubna’s son, Kushan Omar Sufi, is a designer and musician.[12][13][14]
Education
Lubna Marium passed Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from the Dhaka board in 1969 from Holy Cross Girls' High School (Dhaka). In 1971, She completed her Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) from Holy Cross College, Dhaka. In 1977, She completed her BA degree from Dr. Hari Singh Gour University. She completed her MA in Theatre & Performance Studies from York University, Canada in 2020. She also has some Extra-Curricular Certificates. In 1969, she obtained a Certificate in Dance from Bulbul Lalitakala Academy, Dhaka. In 1980, a Certificate in Secretarial Science, Dhaka. In 2000, a Certificate in Spoken Sanskrit from Samskrita Bharati. Delhi, India.[15]
Cultural and social activism
![](../I/IMG-Lubna-M-19962.jpg.webp)
Lubna has been part of Bangladesh’s Cultural Movement since childhood. Before the war in 1971, she participated in many demonstrations, rallies, and cultural performances protesting oppression by the Pakistani regime. In 1971, with her family, she worked in the Kalyani Refugee Camp in India, under the aegis of the Center for Communal Harmony run by the late Smt. Maitreyee Devi. Later, she was part of the Advanced Dressing Center in Sector 7 of the Mukti Bahini, where her father Lt.Col. Nooruzzaman was the Sector Commander. Later he became the Founding Member of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee. She can be seen in the film ‘Muktir Gaan’ as part of the ‘cultural troupe, named Bangladesh Mukti Shangrami Shilpi Shangstha which used to travel to refugee camps and different areas in Mukta Anchal, to perform patriotic songs, arrange puppet shows, and stage dramas to inspire the freedom fighters and refugees with the Spirit of Liberation.[16][17]
Activity
- Dance training
Lubna has spent a lifetime searching for the right artistic style of dance. Beginning with training in an avant-garde (innovative or pioneering) style of dance taught at the Bulbul Lalitkala Academy in Dhaka in the last century, she later trained in Bharatanatyam and Manipuri. After years she found refuge in Rabindranritta, a fusion of dance styles presented under the guidance of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Since then, Lubna danced and choreographed Rabithakur's compositions for most of her life. Additionally, she is trying to spread the message of universal brotherhood, which Rabindranath believed in.[18]
![](../I/IMG-Lubna-20230222.jpg.webp)
- Performance / Artistic direction
Lubna has performed as Rabindranath's immortal character Radha in 'Bhanusingher Padavali'; the courtesan dancer Shyama in the dance drama of the same name and Maya, Rabindranath's Chandal heroine Prakriti’s Mother, amongst others. She has been appreciated by audiences at home and abroad in her role as Lokeshwari in 'Hey Ananta Punya' and Rani Ma in 'Tasher Desh'. Lubna has produced and directed Rabindranath's 'Chandalika', 'Hey Ananta Punya', 'Tasher Desh', 'Mayar Khel', 'Momo Manoshoshathi', 'Fireflies', 'Aay Amader Angone', 'Adda, Na Ki Naach', had worked about 30 productions including ‘Hai Ramu' and Syed Shamsul Haque's 'Champaboti'.[19]
- Studies in Indian aesthetics
Though trained in traditional forms of South Asian dance, Lubna has always been fascinated by dance as a tool for change. Intrinsically an introvert, Lubna remembers how dance, and later performance, gave wings to her even as a child. This inspired her to delve deeper into the meaning and purpose of dance as a transformative cultural practice, through her studies in Indian aesthetics.[20] Her area of interest is Tantra - Kashmiri Shaivism, and Buddhist Vajrayana - and how these kinesthetic practices intersect with dance.[21]
- Ethnographic activism
Lubna’s research on Buddhist Vajrayana ritual dance practices in Nepal enabled the extraordinary rediscovery of its connection with Bangladesh, while her systematic study of folk-dance practices in Bangladesh was instrumental in initiating several safeguarding measures to assure their continuity.[22]
- Cultural activism through Shadhona
Lubna is part of a Trust that manages 'Shadhona - A Center for Advancement of Southasian Culture', through which diverse activities to preserve and enhance the cultural practices of Bangladesh are run. From 1992,[23][24] Shadhona has been creating and producing dance theatre – traditional, folk, and contemporary. Working for the preservation and enhancement of 'intangible cultural heritage' through extensive research and documentation followed by safeguarding measures, especially for Manipuri dance practice in Bangladesh; preservation of lathi khala – a martial art of Bangladesh; strengthening folk ritual performances of Manasa Mangal; managing an on-line inventory of intangible cultural heritages (ICH) of Bangladesh; and working with policymakers to integrate ICH with Sustainable Development Goals 2030.[25][26] Running various 'dance outreach' programs for children with special needs, people from marginalized communities, etc. using various theatrical strategies like Forum Theatre, Feminist Dance Theatre, Performance Ethnography, etc.[27] Supporting dancers through training programs and scholarships.
- Imparting training in dance and music through Kolpotoru
Lubna also runs 'Kolpotoru', a dance school established by herself in 2008.[28]
Work experience
- Writings and lectures on culture
Lubna has presented papers on the Culture of Bangladesh, specifically Dance Studies and Indigenous Performances, in several national and international seminars.[29][30][31][32][33]
Date and Year | Presentation |
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April 14, 2013 | Performing Subaltern Beliefs: Pluralism in the Indigenous Theatre of Bangladesh; ‘International Folklore Conference’, Bangla |
November 30, 2013 | ‘Agency, Art and Dance: Plural practices of Bangladesh’ at the World Dance Alliance- Asia Pacific AGM in the University of Taipei, Taiwan. |
July 8, 2014 | ‘Sensitizing Performance: Feminist Dance Theatre in Bangladesh’ at the Global Summit 2014 of the World Dance Alliance at the University of Angers, France |
September 26, 2014 | ‘Sahaja - The journey of a concept from Philosophical Text to Folk Literature’, at the International Sanskrit Conference at Dehradun, India; 26 - 28 Sep 2014. |
November 29, 2014 | ‘Story of Bangladesh: The context of ‘Made in Bangladesh’; at the ‘Decolonize Fest’ by Forum Freies Theater at Tanshaus NRW, Dusseldorf, Germany |
March 29, 2015 | 'Performing Transformation - Looking at Performative Traditions of South Asia'; First Stakeholders Consultation for SASIAN Journey; March 28 - 31, 2015; The Ashoka, Delhi, India |
November 12, 2015 | 'Art in Tagore's Ideals of Education'; Panelist in Book Launch of 'Shades of Difference', edited by Radha Chakravarty; French Cultural Institute, Delhi, India |
December 28, 2015 | 'Forging Bonds Through Dance: Dance and Diplomacy'; an online Interactive Session with participants of the 'Creative Diplomacy' course at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS), Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Dec 28, 2015 |
February 23, 2016 | 'Seeking Sahaja through Dance'; Kalavarta, Khajuraho Dance Festival, 2016, Madhya Pradesh, India |
December 3, 2016 | 'Negotiating Bangladeshi Identity through Dance', Natya Ballet Dance Festival, Meghdoot Theatre, SNA, Delhi, India |
February 21, 2017 | ‘Beyond Boundaries: Reconnecting shared cross-border cultural practices’; Kalavarta, Khajuraho Dance Festival 2017 |
May 6, 2017 | Negotiating Asian Identity through Dance; Asian Theatre; Asian Theatre Summit 2017, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka |
May 8, 2017 | ‘Seeking Sahaja: A Historical Overview of some Spiritual Performative Practices in Bangladesh; Inaugural Conference of Music Education Alliance Across the “Silk Road”, Beijing, China |
July 26, 2017 | Combating radicalization through grassroots performative practices, including dance’; Global Summit of World Dance Alliance, Memorial University, St. John’s, New Foundland, Canada |
April 20, 2019 | Let Go the Dandelions’ – a multi-modal presentation addressing issues of diasporic identity formation and feminism; Adhunika, Baruch College, New York, USA |
October 19, 2019 | Halaqah refresh.com’ – a presentation on Performance Ethnography followed by the theatrical project investigating ‘identity formation’ of Muslim Women in Bangladesh; Natmondal Auditorium, University of Dhaka |
Nov 25, 2019 | Whither Dance in Bangladesh?’ - Keynote speech at the Ocean Dance Festival Bangladesh 2019, Cox's Bazar |
July 13, 2020 | ‘Decolonizing Culture’, an online discussion with Canadian Bangladesh Social Justice Alliance |
July 15, 2020 | Empowering communities through safeguarding of culture through education, for the International Arts Summit by the Creative Arts, Kolkata |
September 4, 2020 | Srsti from Srj: to let go, keynote speech for Women in Performance 2020 by Kolkata Creativity Center |
January 28, 2021 | Of rafts, rivers, and rituals: Cultural Services of Aquatic Ecosystems’, 6th International Water Conference organized online by Action Aid. |
January 4, 2022 | Lubna Marium (2022) Interrogating the Spirit of 1971: Beyond Historicisms, Strategic Analysis, DOI: 10.1080/09700161.2021.1999698 |
Date and Year | Presentation |
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Academy, Dhaka | |
June 2009 | Presented a paper at the 3rd SSEASR Conference in Bali, Indonesia, on |
November 2009 | Presented a paper at the 2nd SAARC Folklore Festival, Chandigarh, India, November 2009 on ‘Lathikhela’, the indigenous martial art of Bangladesh |
December 2009 | Presented a paper on ‘Introduction of Dance Pedagogy in an Indigenous performing art of Bangladesh’ at the World Dance Alliance – Asia Pacific Conference, Nov 28 – Dec 1, 2009, Delhi, India. |
July 2010 | Presented a paper on ‘Soteriology of Dance: Buddhist Tantric Charya Dance’ at the World Dance Alliance – Americas Global Event, July 15-18, 2010, NYU, New York, USA |
October 2010 | Paper on Charya Dance – ‘Charya Dance: The Body Mind Connection’ for a Seminar at the Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh on October 20, jointly organized by Shadhona and Bangla Academy. |
May 10, 2011 | Paper on ‘Contemporizing Tagore’s Plays – Based on the production of Tasher Desh’; Seminar at the Bangla Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh organized on the occasion of the 150 Birth Anniversary of Tagore |
October 24, 2011 | Paper on ‘Dancing Marginality: Living Traditions of Folk Dances in Bangladesh’, SAARC Folk Dance Symposium by SAARC Cultural Center and Ministry of Culture (GoB), Dhaka, Bangladesh. |
November 18, 2011 | ‘Performing Marginality: Performance & Preservation of Folk Dances of Bangladesh, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Conference, BRAC, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
November 20, 2011 | Charya Nritya: Body and Mind Connection in Buddhist Tantric Dances based on Charyapada Literature, at the 2nd International Congress for Bengal Studies, 20 Dec 2011, Dhaka University, Bangladesh |
February 12–14, 2012 | Charya Nritya’, International CBS-Seminar on Sahaja – The Role of ha and Carya giti in the cultural Indo-Tibetan Interface; Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India |
March 24, 2012 | Study of Sanskrit’, International Sanskrit Conference, Gandhinagar, Gujrat, India |
January 5, 2013 | Phenomenology of Charya Nritya’, Seminar on 1000 years of Atisa’s journey to Indonesia, IIC, Delhi, India |
February 4, 2013 | Sensitizing Performance’, Seminar on Moving Spaces – Women in Dance; Dept of Women’s Studies and Dance Alliance, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India |
March 14, 2013 | Performing Transformation: Visualizing New Conceptions’; Conference on ‘Beyond Strategies: Cultural Dynamics in Asian Connections’, Maulana Abul Kalam Institute of Asian Studies, 13-14 March, 2013, Kolkata, India |
March 17, 2013 | ‘Phenomenology of Charya Nritya’, Conference on ‘Charyapada and Contemporary Literature and Culture’, Assam Sahitya Sabha, March 16-17, 2013, Guwahati, India. |
March 18 – 27, 2013 | Lectures on ‘Charya Nritya’ at Mangoldoi College (Mangoldoi), Pragjyotish College (Guwahati), Tezpur University (Tezpur), India. |
'
Date and Year | Presentation |
---|---|
Indigenous Performances of Bangladesh | |
February 2008 | Based on her research on Indigenous Ritualistic Performances of Bangladesh, Lubna presented a paper at the International Workshop of Study of Religion in India at the Department of Philosophy, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, India on ‘Indigenous Ritual Performances of Bangladesh’. |
July 2008 | Presented a paper on her research in Indigenous Performances at the Center for Oriental Studies of the Martin Luther University at Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. |
August 2008 | Presented paper on ‘Dance in Bangladesh’ for Adhunika, a Bangladeshi Women’s organization in New York, USA |
January 2009 | Presented a paper at a conference on ‘Languages of Theatre’ organized by the ISTR at JNU, Delhi, India |
- Publications
- ‘Children Cry Alone’, a research publication on the situation of sexual abuse of children in Bangladesh, based on a survey undertaken by ASK, in collaboration with several professional groups, as part of a UNESCAP project entitled ‘Elimination of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Youth Through Human Resources Development’; 2000.
- Marium, Lubna, A LONG ROAD TO JUSTICE: The role of courts and civil society in safeguarding women's human rights in Bangladesh, 2006; based on a report on ‘The Role of Courts and Civil Society in Safeguarding Women’s Human Rights in Bangladesh’ for an Ain-O-Shalish Kendro (ASK), Bangladesh - Chr. Michelsen Institute for Science and Intellectual Freedom (CMI), Norway project; June 2006.
- ‘Charyanrtya – Deho o moner shongjog’; Bangladesher Hridoy hote (Vol 1, Year 4, 1 Falgun, 1417)
- ‘Rabindranritya: An unfinished Experiment; Rabindranath Tagore: Reclaiming a Cultural Icon. Edited by Kathleen M. O’Connell and Joseph T. O’Connell. Kolkata: Visva-Bharati, 2009.
- 'Restructuring Tradition - An Experiment in the Introduction of Performance Pedagogy in an Indigenous Performing Art of Bangladesh'; Folklore Across the Boundaries of the SAARC Region; Edited by K.Satchidanandan & Ajit Cour; Delhi, June 2010.
- ‘Understanding Creative Unity’; `Tagore Beyond Borders’; ICCR, Kolkata, 2010.
- ‘Rabindranrtyadhara’; Shardhoshoto borshe Rabindranath, Edited by Sanjida Khatun, Chhayanaut, Boishakh 1418, May 2011.
- Contributed with Video recording and commentary in ‘Shades of Difference’: Selected Writings of Tagore’; edited by Radha Chakravarthy; Delhi; 2015.[34]
- 'Performing Transformation', Indian Seminar (Delhi, India), April 2016.[35]
- Research writings
- Completed a ‘Pilot ICH inventory Project’, by UNESCO (Dhaka), involving local communities and practitioners on a selected number of intangible cultural heritages of Bangladesh in 2017.
- Researched and revived Bengal’s martial dance, ‘Raibesh’ and the medieval dance form ‘Charya Nritya’ within dance practice of Bangladesh.
- Researched and worked with folk theatre companies performing the ritual theatre of Manasa Mangal.
- Researched ‘Lathikhela’ country-wide in 2010 – 2016.
- Creative writing
- Marium, Lubna. 2921. "Whimsies." In Golden: Bangladesh at 50 Contemporary Stories and Poems edited by Shazia Omar, by Shazia Omar and eds. Dhaka: UPL.[36]
Awards
- Shreshtho Nritto Shilpi’ (Best Dancer) award by Bangladesh Television in (1977)
- Bulbul Chowdhury award (2003)
- Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award (2013)[37]
- SAARC Women’s Association award (2014)
- Zeenat Jahan Memorial Award (2015)
- Inspiring Women Award (2015)[38]
- Recognition of Honor Award (2015)
- 71 Foundation Shommanona Award (2016)[39]
- Conferred Benuka Shommano Podok (2017)
- Prayas Sammanana Award (2018)[40][41]
- Bangladesh Loko Shangskritik Shongshod Award (2018)
- Gunijan Shommanona (2018)
- Shilpakala Padak (2019)[42][43]
- Poet Chandrabati Chayanika Women's Library Honorary Medal (2020)
- Nagad and Bangla Tribune ‘50 Years of Independence Award (2022)[44]
References
- "Words of hope from Lubna Mariam". The Daily Star. 16 December 2008.
- "Lubna Marium felicitated". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- কোনোদিন কাঁদি নাই সেদিনের ঘটনায় যত কেঁদেছি: লুবনা মরিয়ম. Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "The dance connoisseur Lubna Marium". The Daily Star. September 1, 2018.
- "Shilpakala Padak 2019, 2020 announced". Daily Sun. June 14, 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Lubna Marium". The Daily Star. January 4, 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- মুক্তিযুদ্ধের সময় প্রতিদিন কেঁদেছি: লুবনা মরিয়ম. Samakal (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ‘শিল্প বাড়ি’তে লুবনা মরিয়ম. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ১১ বীর নারী পেলেন সম্মাননা. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ১৪ ডিসেম্বরের যুদ্ধচিত্র উঠে এলো সাধনার পারফরম্যান্সে. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- জাতীয় বীরদের গল্প অপো গ্যালারিতে. Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "শিল্প বাড়িতে লুবনা মরিয়ম". Bangla News24 (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "An artiste-activist on the move". New Age. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "1 MINUTE PLEASE!". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "And poetry was enkindled... but with her moves! - 44641.php-22-09". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Through the Eyes of Lubna Marium". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "'Jinnah couldn't teach us Urdu, Bollywood has taught us Hindi': Shadhona's Lubna Marium". FirstPost. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Lubna takes part in dance festival in India". observerbd.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Kolpotoru organises classical dance performance today". Kolpotoru organises classical dance performance today | theindependentbd.com. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- প্রতিবেদক, বিনোদন. "এখনো সন্ধান করি সেই যুদ্ধে নাম না জানা শহীদ পরিবারকে". Prothomalo (in Bengali). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Bangla scholar harps on importance of Sanskrit". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- Marium, Lubna (22 September 2022). "The 'Wicked Problem' of Locating and Safeguarding Dance in Bangladesh". South Asian Dance Intersections. 1 (1). Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Shadhona performs in Delhi". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Of Art, Aesthetics and Shadhona". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- Hassan, Mainul (6 May 2010). "Brainstorming camp on 'Lathi Khela' concludes". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- Correspondent, Cultural (27 December 2008). "'Lathi khela' at Charukala". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Shadhona's presentation earns plaudits in India: Lubna Marium". New Age. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- sun, daily. "Let Your Soul Dance | Daily Sun |". daily sun. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Words of hope from Lubna Mariam". The Daily Star. December 16, 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Dancers have quickly turned to technology for survival". The Daily Star. July 25, 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "The case for a national inventory of intangible cultural heritage". The Daily Star. June 4, 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Art transcending all boundaries". The Asian Age. July 2, 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Never In The Room: A Forum Theatre Presentation in Partnership with Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH)". Mixed Company Theatre. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Launch of Shades of Difference: Selected Writings of Rabindranath Tagore". in.ambafrance.org. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Performing transformation". india-seminar.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "The writers of 'Golden: Bangladesh at 50' tell their tales". The Daily Star. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- "Dancer-scholar gets first Bhupen award". The Times of India. March 29, 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- Basher, Naziba (31 March 2017). "For the women, by the women". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ১১ বীর নারী পেলেন সম্মাননা. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). March 21, 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Lubna Marium to receive award in Kolkata". New Age. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Lubna Marium to receive the prestigious Proyash Somman Award". The Daily Star. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- "Shilpakala Padak 2019, '20 awarded". New Age | The Most Popular Outspoken English Daily in Bangladesh. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- Desk, Prothom Alo English. "18 artists, two organisations to receive Shilpakala Padak 2019, 2020". Prothomalo. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
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