CENTRAL KACHI- KANCHAR MELA

CENTRAL KACHI- KANCHAR MELA

National Children’s Organization of Bangladesh

An humble start:

On  October 5, 1956  afternoon  around a dozen persons gathered in the house of poet Sufia kamal at Tarabag of old Dhaka city and arranged a small meeting in the lawn under the shade of a tree. Dr. Abdullah-Al-Muti Sharfuddin a young progressive and brilliant professor, presided over the meeting. They discussed about the problems and prospects of multi dimensional development of children, enabling them to grow as responsible citizens. With this end in view, a new children’s organization entitled ‘Kachi-Kanchar Mela’ was formed in that meeting. Ruknuzzaman Khan, a poet and journalist, shouldered the responsibility of managing the new organization as its founding Director. Mr. Khan was the feature editor of children’s weekly page ‘Kachi-kancher Ashor’ of largest circulated Bengali daily the ‘Ittefaq’ under the pen-name ‘Dadabhai’. He was widely known and popular among children as Dadabhai. To shape the  newty established forum into a vibrant and ideal children’s organization, eminent intellectuals joined and contributed towards strengthening the activities. Among them were Shilpacharya Joinul Abedin, poet Jasimuddin, Professor Ajit Kumar Guha, Painter Kamrul Hasan, Editor of the ‘Sawgat’ Mohammad Nasiruddin, Editor of the daily ‘Ittefaq’ Tofazzal Hossain Manik Mia, Shaheed Journalist Sirajuddin Hossain, Eminent Scientist Dr. Kudrat-e-Khuda, child litérateur Hassan Jan, Socio-political organizer M.A Wadud, Principal Lutful Haider Chowdhury,  Poet Faiz Ahmed, Researcher and Novelist Dr. Nazma Jesmin Chowdhury, Educationist Selina Banu, Wizard of stick-play(lathikhela) Ostad Sirajul Haque Chowdhury and others.

Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela was registered with Social Welfare Directorate as a social welfare organization on  October 15, 1963. Mela’s Registration number is 973/1963.

Ideals & Objectives

              

Kachi-Kanchar Mela is a non-political social welfare organization for multi dimensional development of children. Its aims and objectives are,

(i)                 creating interest and developing knowledge and skills of children in the areas of literature, art & culture, physical exercise & games, education & social development;

(ii)               facilitating children’s participation and learning in the mentioned areas;

(iii)             to identify children’s areas of interest and to help them develop in those areas;

(iv)             to create opportunities for children’s physical and mental upbringing;

(v)               to develop children into worthy citizens of tomorrow by introducing them to truth, fairplay and excellence;

(vi)             to develop self-esteem and patriotism in children by creating interest and love for motherland and mother-language;

(vii)           to create identity with people and society, arouse interest for social-welfare and inspire them for helping the distressed humanity;

(viii)         to infuse the sprit of free-thininking by creating  awareness about the evils of superstition, lack of education and unfairness,

(ix)             to introduce social values and culture among children and keep them free form the aggression of harmful alien culture;

Activities:        

To realize ideals and achieve stated objectives, activities have been grouped into five clusters, (i) Literature (ii) Art & Culture (iii) Science & Technology (iv) Games & Sports and (v) Education & Social Welfare.  Group-wise indicative activates are listed below: 

(i)                 Literature: Writing, reading and discussion about poems, stories and articles written by children; presentation of writings for children; publication of wall-papers, journals and periodicals; essay-writing; establishment and operation of children’s library.

(ii)               Art & Culture:  Training of children in the field of painting; songs & music; dance & theatre; staging cultural function; staging children’s theatre; observing birth anniversaries of national and cultural personalities; observing special days; Arranging children’s workshop and competition in the areas of painting, art & craft, recitation, debate & public speaking etc.

(iii)             Science & Technology: Conducting science workshop and demonstration; converting simple scientific features into children’s games; competition of scientific writing; children’s seminar & discussion meetings on science; developing and operating simple computer programs for children; demonstration of children’s scientific games etc.

(iv)             Games & Sports:  Physical exercise; games, specially of Bangladesh origin; competition of games & sports.

(v)               Education & Social Welfare: Operating children’s night schools; children’s literacy program; helping disadvantaged, distressed and disabled children; first aid training; encouraging horticulture & gardening; extending help during natural disaster; social welfare training; environmental awareness; child rights; sight seeing and visit to historic places; picnic etc.

Remarkable activities & Achievements:

Training : Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela provides regular training to children in selected co-curricular activities, including painting, music, dance, recitation, presentation, debate, computer etc. Occasional training programs are also arranged for physical exercise and games. Child members earned many prizes and recognition in national and international competitions. Since 1963, they earned many gold, silver medals and commendation in Shankar International Drawing Competition. Child-members participated in art competitions in Tokyo, London, Seoul and Ankara. In addition to regular training, intensive workshops are arranged for advanced trances. These workshops are led by eminent trainers of the country.  

Performance and presentation:  After learning in the regular training courses, learners are given opportunity to present their performance before the audience. Learners present songs, dance and recitations at cultural events. It adds to their self-confidence. Cultural events are managed and conducted by child-members, facilitating development of leadership qualities. Occasionally, special training courses are arranged for children’s drama. Children staged drama on different occasions. Mela participated in many drama competitions and eanned appreciation. Mela secured first place in Agrain Bank Children’s Competition.

Child-Rights:  Child-members of Kachi-Kanchar Mela learn about child-rights as declared by United Nations. Mela undertakes awareness building program for other children. In collaboration with Noreigian Children Musium, Kachi-Kanchar Mela conducted a three-week long child-rights exhibition, which attracted thousands of children and adult visitors. Mela also staged drama and arranged discussions on child rights.

Children’s Library:  Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela has developed a children’s library named ‘Kakoli Pathagar’. It is open to all child members and school students. They use it regularly for reading and recreation. Quarterly ‘book-reading’ and story-telling’ competitions are held among children. Besides, monthly get-together is held to present children’s own writings and recitations.

Games & Sports :  Physical exercise training is given to children during winter. Exercises include Brotochari and playing with sticks. Besides, children’s cricket tournament is arranged every year. Occasionally visit to historic places is arranged. Annual picnic is also arranged.

Visit to foreign countries: On invitation, child-members visited foreign countries and presented performances. Members of Kachi-Kanchar Mela visited Norway and Norwegian children reciprocated by visiting Bangladesh. Child-members participated at ‘International Children’s Peace Camp’ held in Barcelona of Spain.

Observances: Kachi-Kanchar Mela observes Ekushey February, Independence Day, Pahela Baishakh, National Mourning Day, Mela’s Establishment Anniversary, National Children’s Day and Victory Day. Discussions are held highlighting significance of the day and cultural function is also held depicting special features of the day. Besides, birth anniversaries of Shilpachary Janinul Abedin. Poet Jasimuddin, Dr. Abdullah-All-Muti Sharfuddin, Ruknuzzaman Khan Dadabhai and poet Sufia kamal are observed with great enthusiasm, as they were the founders of Kachi-Kanchar Mela. During winter season, children’s camp ‘Ananda Mela’ is organized and children form all over the country participate in the camp.

Personalities :

Many of today’s successful personalities were child-members of Kachi-Kanchar Mela. They  were trained and developed as worthy citizens. They include Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Ruby Rahman, Asma Abbasi, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Rabiul Hussain, Dr. Mustafa Mazid, Mahaub Talukder, Anisul Haque in the field of literature; Papiya Sarwar, Bulbul Mahalanabish, Subir Nandi in the field of music; Rafiqunnabi, Hashem Khan, Abul Bark Alivi, Abdus Salam in the field of painting; Shahadat Hossain, Dil Monowara Manu in the field of jounrnalium, Dr. Mohammed Farashuddin, Khondkar Ibrahim Khaled in the field of economics and finance, Dr. ATM Shamsul Huda and S.A Samad in the filed of public administration; Sultana Kamal and Shirin Banu Mitil in the field Human Rights.

Establishment:  Office of Central Kachi-Kanchar Mela is situated at 37/A Segum Bagicha, Dhaka, on 30 decimal land, where Mela owns a 4-storied building with foundation to build upto 10 storey. The building, known as ‘Kachi-Kancha Bhaban’, contains Auditorium with 320 seats, training rooms for painting, music, dance, reatation, debate & speech and computer, conference rooms and children’s library known as ‘Kakali Pathager’. Besides, there is a open stage and open space for field activities. Physical exercise, games & sports are held in the open space. Two rooms adjacent to main gate are used for office purpose.