By Shah J Choudhury
Today is my friend’s birthday. Today is George Harrison’s birthday.
George Harrison was a friend of Bengalis. And I am a Bengali. The fact that I introduced myself as a Bengali is an amazing contribution from the man named George Harrison. Though I have never met him. In fact, he did not meet any of us. But that unknown person stood by the Bengalis with all his means.
Bengalis know George Harrison. But how much? That’s not so important. They know the name only. George Harrison is one of the most talented musicians of the twentieth century. And a guitarist. He is one of the four members of the famous band ‘The Beatles’. Sitarist Ravi Shankar was a special friend of George Harrison. But it would be wrong to just call him a sitarist. Ravi Shankar was the legend of classical music of the Indian subcontinent of the 20th century.
During the war of independence from Bangladesh in 1971, Only destruction was all around. The freedom fighters did not have adequate weapons, food, or medical treatment. People were dying. As if, they were insects, not humans. Millions of people have fled the land. Ten million people have taken shelter in India. They have become refugees. The Indian government was also struggling. The Prime Minister of India was Indira Gandhi. She called Pandit Ravi Shankar and asked him to do something.
Ravi Shankar went to George Harrison in America. He told him about the oppression, torture and genocide perpetrated by Pakistanis on Bangladeshis. He talked about the war of independence. He described the millions of refugees. George Harrison listened. He started thinking about doing something. Ravi Shankar said, how about a small charity concert? Money can be helped.
George Harrison said, If I arrange a concert, I’ll make it big.
After that, the two of them organized the ‘Concert for Bangladesh’. The first charity concert to help Bangladeshi refugees was held at Madison Square Garden in New York. “Concert for Bangladesh” is one of the world’s most significant charity concerts to date.On the afternoon of August 1, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, New York, they hosted two benefit concerts. A large group of world-famous musicians took part in the concert. Notable among them were Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Bad Finger and Ringo Rockster. The concert was held in the presence of about 40,000 spectators. At the concert, George Harrison performed his famous song “Bangladesh”. All proceeds from the concert tickets and cassettes were donated to UNICEF.
The 2.5 million raised at the concert was donated to Bangladeshi refugees through UNICEF.
The main attractions of the concert were Bob Dylan and George Harrison. The last performance of the program was George Harrison’s unforgettable song “Bangladesh, Bangladesh.” The song was written and composed by George himself. The main theme of the song was the compassionate call to stand by the people of war-torn Bangladesh.
George Harrison is very important to the people of Bangladesh. Because of George Harrison’s “The Concert for Bangladesh.”
Today is the birthday of this talented man.
George Harrison was born in the United Kingdom on February 25, 1943. He was equally skilled in music direction, record production, and film production. Originally a lead guitarist, George Harrison wrote and composed one or two songs for each Beatles album. George Harrison’s songs became very popular in the late 1970’s.
George Harrison died at the age of 58. On November 29th, 2001. He was diagnosed with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. He was cremated in Hollywood Forever Cemetery in a Hindu ritual. George Harrison’s views on religion were that ‘all doctrines are branches of a great tree.’ It doesn’t matter what you call him. “
Translated by Zahan Ara Dolon
