Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed
The English New Year starts on the first day of January and ends on the last day of December. No nation in the world calls it the English New Year. For welcoming the fresher’s, the 31st night is being observed, not highlighted as the English New Year. But we are calling it the Bengali New Year. Most probably, it was a far-sighted colonial diplomacy by the British rulers. However, every time, we call it the Bengali New Year. Is it for the Bengali language, culture, or civilization? Perhaps this is for tradition and heritage owned by the people of a country. From a racial point of view, we can’t call it the Bengali New Year. Because no particular race or tribe is representing Bangladesh. It’s a country of multiracial & tribal people. Here, the concept of nationalism is important. Language or race cannot be prioritized. Everybody is a citizen of a country with due rights and privileges. Nobody can be defamed. Everybody should have his or her own unique identity. That should be Bangladeshi nationalism. However, Pohela Boishakh is the name of a festival. Its festivity must be limited to joy with tradition and heritage, not anything else. This year’s joy must not go beyond people’s joy or people’s flavor. If we deviate from it, that will give a wrong message to the nation and its people. Moreover, it would be a betrayal to the martyrs of the July 2024 uprising. So this year’s Pohela Boishakh must get the flavor of different moods & modus operandi.
The celebration of Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year, is woven deeply into the cultural fabric of Bengal — a festival that transcends centuries, empires, and generations.
Today, it is seen as a vibrant explosion of music, color, food, and unity, but its beginnings lie in a much humbler, practical necessity during the glorious days of the Mughal Empire. In the 16th century, the vast and fertile lands of Bengal were under the rule of the legendary Mughal Emperor Akbar, whose reign is remembered for its grandeur, reforms, and cultural synthesis. Bengal, a land of rivers, paddy fields, and bountiful harvests, was a crucial part of Akbar’s empire. However, the system of taxation created many hardships for the local farmers. Taxes were collected according to the Hijri calendar, which was based on the cycles of the moon. This system clashed terribly with the agricultural seasons, since the Islamic lunar year is shorter than the solar year. As a result, farmers were forced to pay taxes before they could even harvest their crops- A cruel blow to their livelihoods.
Recognizing this major flaw, Akbar — a ruler known for his wisdom and sensitivity to the needs of his people — decided to introduce a calendar reform. He commissioned his royal astronomer, Fathullah Shirazi, a man of extraordinary intellect, to create a new system that would align better with the solar year and the rhythms of nature. Thus, the Bônggabdô — the Bengali calendar — was born, blending elements of local Hindu solar calendars and Islamic timekeeping traditions. The adoption of the new calendar was not merely an administrative change; it brought a revolution in daily life. The first day of the Bengali year, known as Pohela Boishakh, became a natural time for closing the accounts of the past and celebrating new beginnings. Merchants started the tradition of Haal Khata, where they would invite customers, offer them sweets, and open new ledgers for a prosperous year ahead. Farmers rejoiced in the chance to mark the end of their struggles and to welcome the fruits of their hard labor with songs, dances, and fairs. Over time, Pohela Boishakh evolved into something far greater than a farmers’ festivity or a merchants’ ritual. It blossomed into a deep expression of Bengali culture, identity, and spirit. Even during British colonial rule, when Bengali traditions were sometimes marginalized, Pohela Boishakh stood strong as a reminder of the people’s resilience and cultural pride. In modern times, particularly after the Language Movement of 1952 and the Liberation War of 1971, the day took on a new, even more profound meaning — a symbol of freedom, unity, and the undying spirit of the people of Bangladesh.
Today, Pohela Boishakh is celebrated with unparalleled enthusiasm. The day begins with the melodies of “Esho He Boishakh” floating through the air, welcoming the new year with open arms. The Mangal Shobhajatra, a grand procession initiated by the students of Dhaka University, showcases colorful masks, giant replicas of animals, and traditional motifs, representing the triumph of good over evil and hope over despair. It is a celebration that binds together people of all religions, classes, and backgrounds in one common identity: that of being Bengali. In essence, the journey of Pohela Boishakh is the journey of Bengal itself — from the fields of the ancient farmers to the grand courts of the Mughals, from the struggles under colonial rule to the modern celebrations of an independent nation. It is a reminder that no matter how the world changes, the spirit of renewal, joy, and unity will always be strong in the hearts of all Bangladeshi people.
From the very beginning of our independence, we have been calling it the Bengali New Year. This time, it may be renamed as the people’s first fresh year of Bangladesh. The very name Bengali New Year appears to us as a matter of discrimination. This is a country where people are supposed to live inclusively. But fascist rulers and dictators vested interested groups made people exclusive & discriminatory. The country was made independent, but people were not made independent or self-reliant. This is the tragedy of our people. Politicians are running after money, making wealth of their own by false bluff. Hence, they are being deprived of due rights & privileges. As Bangladesh is a country with a huge population, the people’s interest should be the prime issue in every aspect of life. Again, our country is a people’s republic. So a country should only mean for the people, by the people, and of the people. All people are Bangladeshi nationals. So the very name Bengali New Year” connotes the flavor of people’s exclusiveness. We urge the government to make a change in the observance of Pohela Boishakh.
(The writer is a former Deputy Director General, Bangladesh Ansar and VDP and Rotary Learning Facilitator, Rotary Club, Dhaka Elite).
