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Chinese Bridge（汉语桥han yu qiao）is the one of the biggest and hardest Chinese language competitions among foreign students in China. This year, more than 6000 foreign students from 42 different countries participated in this event. The preliminary contests were held in different parts of China and 100 competitors from all over the country were selected for the semi-final. After two day’s intense semi-final only 30 qualified for the finals and had chance to compete in the CCTV stage.

Finals were divided into 4 rounds: selecting best 15 from 30, 9 from 15, 5 from 9 and 2 from 5. Each round consisted of further 3 parts. Topics of the contests were: explaining Chinese idioms, delivering speech, debating, story telling, written exams, Q&A on general knowledge and so on. After a very tough journey, 2 competitors were left for the gold medal, Omar (阿马尔) from Yemen and Kishore Kumar Biswas (柯修) from Bangladesh. The latter (Kishore Kumar Biswas) obtained the 2nd place and was rewarded with a gold medal.

He delivered an incredible performance and showed an amazing grasp of Chinese language. He also demonstrated a deep knowledge of Chinese culture and history.

Kishore Kumar Biswas came to China in 2000 for his bachelor degree in Tsinghua University. He majored in Computer Science and Engineering and he is currently doing his PhD. in Peking University in the field of Artificial Intelligence.

The competition was hosted by Lu Jian (鲁健), Jing Wei (经纬), Ji Xiao Jun (季小军), Ye Ying Chun (叶迎春) and was broadcasted live on CCTV4 for 1 week. The finals were held on 30th  August 2009.

In Memory of Two Poets: Rabindra-Nazrul

A huge part of Bangladesh’s culture and life is bonded by the words of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and “Bidrohi Kobi” (translated: the Rebel Poet) Kazi Nazrul Islam. Their existence is one that is eternal in the minds of the Bangladeshi people and many others who have experienced their works. The works of these ingenious poets have the magic of stirring emotions of love, sorrow, happiness, anger amongst others.

Such an array of emotions was displayed on May 31st, 2009 as the Bangladeshi community in Beijing celebrated a day of Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti. The celebration commenced with a few words of wisdom on The Poets by two Chinese nationals, who have studied the works of Rabindra-Nazrul. The celebration continued on with a cultural program with participants from the Bangladeshi community in Beijing along with Chinese musicians from China Central Conservatory of Music and China Radio International personnel who are strongly influenced by the Bengali culture and language. The performances ranged from songs to poetry and also musical pieces.

One of the most heart warming performances of the day was made by little Tahsin, a 5 year old Bangladeshi girl, who recited the famous and popular poem “Kathbirali Kathbirali” (translated: Squirrel, squirrel). The poem was written by Kazi Nazrul Islam and is about a little girl in conversation with a squirrel.

Another very interesting performance was showcased by four Chinese ladies working at the China Radio International, as they sung one of Rabindranath’s very popular songs “Boro Asha Kore Eshechi Go Kache Deke Lou”(translated: I have come to you with great hope, accept me). Despite the fact that Bengali is not their mother language the ladies did a wonderful job of singing in tune with the music and pronounced the words with great care and diligence.

The celebration was a wonderful attempt of bringing together a group of people who love and appreciate the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. A special thanks is in order to all the ladies (some with children) in the chorus group, the artist who helped with the wonderful banner for the celebration, and all those hidden talents who decided to step up and participate and finally the organizers. They spent a good four weeks in preparation of the event and all their hard work paid off as a large number of the community turned up to appreciate and remember Rabindra-Nazrul.

Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and Bidrohi Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam will always be remembered. This tribute to The Poets is hopefully just one of many more to come. Till then let us enjoy the songs, poems and stories of our favorite artists and embrace them in our daily lives.

The International Children’s Day was joyously celebrated by the Chinese as they welcomed children from all over the world to join them at the “Shi Jing Yuan” theme park, in Beijing. A group of fifteen to twenty little Bangladeshi angels aged between 6 – 17 years old took part in the celebrations. They sang the famous patriotic Bengali song: “Shurjo Doye Tumi, Shurjastheo Tumi, O Amar Bangladesh, Priyo Jonmobhumi” (translated it means: Thou Art There at the Sun Rise, Thou Art There at the Sun Set, Oh My Bangladesh, My Dear Motherland).

In preparation for this event the children had been regularly meeting at the Bangladesh Embassy for three consecutive weeks to practice their singing and dancing. Finally when the day came they were all dressed up in their lovely and colourful, sarees, panjabis, salwar kameezes and frocks with the Bangladesh Flag held tightly in their hands.

A large group of photographers from the audience gathered around the stage as the little ones were performing. And after the performance the children were treated to their own goody bags and free rides at the theme park.

The day was truly filled with the laughter of children, the innocence of their smiles and the fantasy like hopes and dreams safely captured within their eyes. Days like these ought to come again and again. To all those children out there- Study hard but play harder, Happy International Children’s Day!

Esho he baishakh esho esho...

14th April, 2009 marked “Pahela Baishakh”, 1416 in the Bengali calendar. This day was celebrated grandly by Bangladeshi students and families living in Beijing. A host of students organized for more than fifty Bangladeshis to get together at the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) to welcome the New Year. The evening began at 6:30 pm when everyone gathered at a beautiful park inside BLCU, surrounded by Magnolia trees and lovely Chinese architecture; the colors from the Chinese spring along with those of the beautiful traditional “sarees”, “salwar kameezes”, “panjabis” and “kurtas" gave a warm atmosphere to the event despite the cool spring breeze.