Name: Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Legacy & The Souls of Bengal’s Music
Start: 2025-05-11T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2025-05-11T05:30:00.000Z
Location: Church of Scientology of the Valley, 11455 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

About this evening

Torongo of California, in collaboration with the CSUN College of Humanities, presented Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Legacy & The Souls of Bengal’s Music on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the Church of Scientology of the Valley, North Hollywood.

The program opened with the U.S. national anthem and the Bangladesh national anthem on flute by Shehzeen Rahman, followed by an evening of Nazrul Geeti, dance, recitation, and community.

Venue & time

When: Saturday, May 10, 2025 · 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Where: Church of Scientology of the Valley — 11455 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601

Schedule overview

5:00–6:00 PM — Socialization & appetizers
6:30–7:45 PM — Dinner
7:45 PM — Break for Maghrib prayer

Part 1 — Kazi Nazrul Islam’s Legacy (from 8:00 PM)

Theme: “The revolutionary spirit” through music, patriotism, romance, and spirituality.

National anthems — USA (playback) · Bangladesh (flute by Shehzeen Rahman)
Special guest remarks — Scientology Director Hagit (with video)
Welcome — Shiper Chowdhury
Speakers — Prof. Khanum Shaikh · Prof. Sumaya Bezrati · Dean Jeffrey Reeder
Presentation — “Legacy of Nazrul — notable musical artifacts” by Dr. Mahbubul Haque & Malika Haque
Hosted by Angela Ahsan · Background support — Kamrul Chowdhury

Part 2 — The Souls of Bengal Music

Co-hosted by Zayd Haque & Amberin Rahman — Nazrul Sangeet, folk & modern voices, dance, and poetry.

Tanisha Ali — Desher Gan
Tahana Ali — Nazrul song
Umme Ruman Rais — recitation, Manush
Ahmed Bashir — recitation, Ami Bidrohi Hote Cheyechilam · chorus with group
Hajera Hossain — Karar Oi Louho Kopat
Tarik Chowdhury — Bhupen Hazarika’s Manush
Combined songs — Shilpi Rahman & Simmi Israel
Closing — vote of thanks / closing remarks

Partnership

In 2003, California State University, Northridge established the Kazi Nazrul Islam Endowment to honor Bangladesh’s national poet through academic and cultural initiatives. Torongo is grateful for CSUN’s partnership in preserving and promoting Nazrul’s legacy.

Community reflections

“Thank you so much to Chotomama (Shiper Chowdhury) and his great team for organizing such an enjoyable cultural event with Nazrul Islam’s inspiring & melodious songs, dance, recitation of poem…”