This is not a typical seminar. It's more of a talk show which is inclusive and interactive
The world has changed rapidly over the last year. People everywhere are reclaiming their rights and questioning the accepted paradigms. Distances, boundaries of language and geography are turning into historical signposts, fading into the past every other day in the face of global change. Keeping with this spirit of change and the universal desire to break free of artificial and manmade borders and definitions, the organizers of the Bangamela 2012 have selected a fitting theme - "Break the bariiers". For these few days, we seek to celebrate the breaking free of all narrow and petty divides; throw off the shackles of the limited definitions and bridge the straits of language, religion and political boundaries. This theme seminar will have a panel of the following distinguished personalities.Barriers by definitions are the impediments to freedom both in its literal meaning and in its symbolic meaning too. They are essentially restrictive and keep people under the bondage. In most cases they are man-made. This deliberate choice of theme is intended to provoke thoughts amongst the intelligentsia about sharing common culture between Bangladesh and West Bengal. The barriers that have kept the two Bengals at times in water-tight compartments need to be broken. The common heritage and culture goes far beyond the political boundaries.
Bangla Language and Bengali culture has not only given us a distinct ethnic identity but also it has been a perennial source of inspiration behind a nationalism which culminated into creation of Bangladesh. West Bengal, on the other hand, has historically given a lead to Bengali culture and a time has come now to share our thoughts and ideas, adhere to the common heritage across any divisive design and contribute to the creativity.
This thought-provoking talk-show is for you and I, for us, for all Bengalis around the world. Come , join and contribute

Panelists: Anis Ahmed (moderator), Bithi Chattapadyay, Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, Nabakumar Basu, Nashid Kamal, Roquia Haidar, Sandip Roy, Shelly Shahabuddin, Ziauddin Chowdhury

Epaar Bangla, Opaar Bangla. We long for Bangla. Having reared within Epaar Bangla or Opaar Bangla, and later immigrating to the outer world in quest of a better livelihood, the first generation is still living the Bangla. Call it Bangaliana or else, Bangla is thriving within our hearts. So does each and every cultural grouping of immigrants. Nothing wrong!
We may admit, however, that we tend to be more emotional with our Bangaliana. But this may not be true for our next generation and generations thereafter. As economic globalization ushers a new genre of the knowledge society , we may ponder on (a) how the first generation immigrant Bangla parent would like to raise their children as global achievers , as well as (b) how do our children feel about it and (c) whether they are willing to define their achievements within those parameters or redraw their own parameters.
Within this context how do we advance rational logical reasons as to why our children or even grand children should continue to learn the Bangla language? Yes, our Bangla language has its own beauty. Yes, the Bangla renaissance ushered by our forefathers with its rich literary creations and it's in- depth of philosophical teachings, has enriched and broadened our lives.
But how those teachings bear relevance for today's projonmo? How do they may resonate with the teachings that taught us?
Furthermore, should we perpetuate our enduring love and enthusiasm for Bangla among our successive generations; and cultivate such a quest even at the costs of becoming a parochial among a global society?
Admittedly, the global values are changing. Successive economic collapses in the West, are now finding solace with the East, that unrestraint material greed leads to financial disaster. Shifting course to a simpler lifestyle is spiritually more fulfilling.
Success is also being redefined. The parental advice oft repeated in the globalized home is universal: career status and money alone does not ensure happiness in life. Our generation ought to balance their life goals with a greater purpose .and mandate for the humanity.
Our quest narrows down.

• Shall our children be an enlightened contributor citizen of a globalized knowledge society, still retaining their own cultural identity?
• If our children are connected to their roots will they find it easier to transfer those spiritual, nurturing elements, which have remained ingrained in our social system for their own projonmo?
• Does daily articulation of Bangaliana, zealously, shall enable them to acquire a good knowledge of Bangla culture and philosophy and thus create a comparative advantage for moving ahead?
• Should our projonmo be prepared to leverage that unique advantage?

The Banga Mela 2012 has scheduled a Literary Seminar, expected to be attended by recognized Bangla writers and cultural personalities. The primary objective of the seminar would be listening to the thoughts of our projonmo and reflect upon those thoughts. Parents shall narrate their own quests as parents. Children shall tell their own tale! Have their own parents longed to live their own life among their children?
Where and how the journey shall begin! How do we move forward? How collectively we let loose the baby birds to fly and thereby create its own destiny! How do we move forward?
If you would wish to participate and contribute to the discussion, please email us. We are searching, ideally, for duo drawn from two generations, such as maa meya, baba chele, dadi nati, dada natni. Our email addresses are noorabdun@hotmail.com, sazaman@yahoo.com, mamata0820@gmail.com

Panelists: Abdun Noor (moderator), Bithi Chattapadyay, Nabakumar Basu, Sandip Roy, Azizul Jalil, Mamata De, Syed Zaman

The presenter is a physician for more than 45 years. He will surely touch with his extraordinary grasp on our history, derived energy, inspiration, and unmistakable passion will be abundantly evident throughout his presentation. No one in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan or in the U.K. presented 9000 years history in this format ever before. Find the truth of this statement yourself first hand.
The presenter wants to leave behind words on our ancestry, history, heritage, and on our most magnificent civilization in the form of a dedicated DVD - as comprehensive and as authentic as possible - with an accompanying book and dedicate it to all the children, all the millions of children, all the hundreds of millions of children of South Asia. This DVD and the book may be very useful to the ever expanding Bengali Diaspora, the Indian Diaspora, and the Pakistani Diaspora all around the world, no comparable work exists today, anywhere.
The presenter was invited to speak at various universities in Bangladesh and India and the presentation was featured in various news papers and multiple TV Channels in Bangladesh.

Panelists: Mohammed A. Mannan, M.D. (Amateur Historian And Researcher - Dedicating to all the Children born to the Sub-Continental Ancestry )

In Hans Rosling's (http://www.gapminder.org/videos/gapcasts/gapcast-5-bangladesh-miracle/) words a 'miracle .. has happened in Bangladesh over the last 30 years.' The impressive progress the country has made in areas like public health and basic education has reduced extreme poverty. New challenges, however, threaten the country's aspiration towards the status of a middle-income economy within the next decade or so. The panel will discuss some of the most challenging of these issues - namely, lack of infrastructure, shortage of energy, pervasive inequality, quality of governance, absence of an innovation system - from macro and/or micro perspectives and with an objective to identify policies and interventions which need to be adopted soon.

Panelists: Arif Mohiuddin Sikder, Adnan Zillur Morshed, Mohammod T. Irfan .