The programme included a rally, discussion and cultural event that was jointly organised by the Kangal Harinath Memorial Trust and Kumarkhali Press Club.

The chief discussant was Dr. Abul Ahsan Choudhury, veteran folk researcher and author of several research books on Kangal Harinath as well as Professor of Bangla Department of Islamic University, Kushtia. Chief Executive of Kushtia Zila Parishad, Dhirendranath Sarkar and chief guest addressed the gathering.

The programme was presided over by president of Kangal Harinath Memorial Trust also Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kumarkhali Mohammad Manikhar Rahman.

Harinath Majumdar, popularly known as Kangal Harinath, was born in 1833 at Kundupara Kumarkhali upazila in the district. Kangal dedicated himself to the welfare of the common people and used his pen to protect them from oppression by the then zamindars.

Between 1833 and 1896, Harinath wrote 18 books, and published his Baul songs in 16 volumes under the title of 'Kangal Fikirchand Fakirer Gitabolia'.

He published a newspaper called Sangbad Prabhakar in 1854. Then he published Grambarta Prokashika in 1860, first a monthly, then fortnightly and afterwards as a weekly magazine and emerged as a pioneer of rural journalism in undivided British India. He often wrote about the oppression of farmers by indigo cultivators.

Recently, construction work of memorial complex at Kangal Kutir, abode of Harinath at kundupara in Kumarkhali has begun. The Kushtia Zilla Parishad has sanctioned Taka 12 lakh for the construction.

Resource:
Kangal Harinath festival in Kushtia
Amanur Aman, Kushtia
Sunday, August 2, 2009
URL: http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=99636