English For Today chapter 25: The Concert for Bangladesh

Lesson 25: The Concert for Bangladesh

After completing the lesson students will be able to

• read and understand texts
• ask and answer questions
• participate in short dialogues and conversations on familiar topics

A. It’s Friday evening. Mr. Farhad is watching television in the sitting room. His daughter Fahmida comes in. A tall, bearded man with long hair is playing a guitar and singing a song, “Bangladesh, Bangladesh...” on the television screen. Fahmida is thrilled to watch a foreigner singing a song on Bangladesh. She has the following conversation with her father about the song and the singer:

Fahmida: Father, who is this singer? He is not a Bangladeshi, is he?

Mr. Farhad: You are right! He is not. He is a famous singer from England. His name is George Harrison.

Fahmida: George Harrison! Why did he sing the song on Bangladesh?

Mr. Farhad: That's a huge story. Harrison was not only a famous singer but also a great humanist. He helped us during our Liberation War of 1971.

Figure

Description: A bearded man with long hair sings into a microphone on a stand and plays a guitar.

Fahmida: Did he come to Bangladesh to take part in the Liberation War?

Mr. Farhad: No, my child, he didn't come to Bangladesh, but he fought for our cause by organising the historic Concert for Bangladesh.

Fahmida: Concert for Bangladesh! Please, father. Tell me more about it.

Figure

Labels: THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH

Description: An arched album-style cover. Curved text runs around the top of the arch, and a black-and-white photo of a young boy standing at a table is set inside the arch.

Printed page 76

Mr. Farhad Well, the Concert for Bangladesh was held on the 1st August, 1971 at the Madison Square Garden, New York. George Harrison and some other famous musicians performed in that live concert in front of an audience of about forty thousand people. It was organised to make the world aware of the sufferings of Bangladesh during our liberation war.

Fahmida Wasn’t that great!

Mr. Farhad Yes, it was great! The concert won huge support for the millions of war victims of Bangladesh. At the same time it raised millions of dollars for UNICEF relief fund.

Fahmida I'm really glad that you told me all this, Father. I think we should be grateful to George Harrison and his friends who organised the Concert for Bangladesh.

Mr. Farhad You are right, dear! G. Harrison was posthumously honoured by the people of Bangladesh in 2012

A1. In pairs, discuss if the following statements are True or False. If false, correct the statement.

a. George Harrison was from the United States. b. In 1971, George Harrison visited Bangladesh to take part in the liberation war. c. A huge audience attended the Concert for Bangladesh. d. George Harrison was the only well-known musician to take part in the Concert for Bangladesh. e. The people of the world became aware of the crisis in Bangladesh following the Concert for Bangladesh.

B. Read the lyrics of the song aloud. Here are some parts of the song 'Bangladesh'.

[COPYRIGHTED EXCERPT OMITTED: lyrics of the song "Bangladesh" (George Harrison, 1971), first three stanzas, as printed on pdf p.76-77]

Printed page 77

[COPYRIGHTED EXCERPT OMITTED: remaining stanzas of the lyrics of the song "Bangladesh" (George Harrison, 1971), continued from page 76]

B1. Now, complete the summary of the first three stanzas of the song "Bangladesh" with suitable words from the box below the passage.

My friend came to me with sad eyes and requested me to help his country before it died. Though I could not feel the pain, but I think I should try to help. I also appeal to you all to (1) ____________ us to save the lives of those people. The country is facing (2) ____________ and I have never seen such sufferings. Now, won't you (3) ____________ beside the people of Bangladesh and (4) ____________ forward to reduce their sufferings?

B2. Do you know any Bangla song that inspired the people of Bangladesh during the war of liberation in 1971? Discuss in groups and write down the first line or a few lines of the song in Bangla.

a) What is the first line of the song? b) What is the song about? c) Who is the singer of the song? d) Where did you hear the song first? e) How do you feel when you listen to this song?