Flute village of Cumilla , Srimaddi
Zakir Azad,Cumilla
Sixty-year-old Md. Abul Kashem. Whose life and livelihood is flutes. He started making flutes at the age of 10 with the help of his father Soleman Mia. This has been going on for 50 years. He still maintains this profession. The flutes he makes go beyond the country to various countries including India, America, England, Europe, and the Middle East. Just as Kashem Mia is a flute craftsman, the tune of his flute also resonates with the heart.
The tune of the Rakhalia flute also seems to be defeated by him. Kashem Mia is a resident of Srimaddi village of Homna upazila of Cumilla . Like him, at least 30 families in this village make flutes. However, this number used to be more than two hundred. Currently, it has decreased to 30 families. Md. Abdul Karim of the same village has been cutting bamboo and making flutes for about 40 years. He has also taught his own sons and daughters the work taught by his father and grandfather. They help make flutes in their spare time. On the occasion of Baishakh, when he went to his house, everyone was seen busy making flutes.
On Wednesday (April 9), when he went to Srimuddy village in Homna, it was seen that flute making work was going on in every house on the occasion of Baishakh. Some are cutting bamboo to size, some are burning it to design it, some are making holes with a chisel. This work is also done by men, women and children of the village. Even buyers come from far and wide to buy flutes.
Liton Mia, who came to buy flutes from Gouripur in Comilla, said, I work as a flute player in a Baul Sangha. When I need a flute, I come to Srimuddy village. The flute here has a nickname. Many people I know come to this village.
Flute craftsman Md. Abul Kashem Mia said, Srimuddy is a flute village. Nowhere else are so many flutes made except this village. The people of this village sleep at night listening to the melody of the flute and wake up in the morning listening to the melody of the flute. When Baishakh comes, the demand for flute increases. This year is more than the previous year. 24 people are needed to make a flute. We do the work of these 24 people together, 5/6 of us. The effort and cost are high. Sometimes we have to bring people from outside to do the work. Srimuddy village is known as the flute village. The flutes I make are sent to various countries including India, America, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, London, Japan, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, France and the United States. Flute players from big music brand groups come to this village and take their flutes.
Kashem Mia further said that the thin bamboo used for making flutes is collected from Mymensingh, Gauripur, and Chittagong. Later, this bamboo is soaked in water for at least two years. After two years, it is taken out of the water, cut according to size, and dried for another two years. Then, it is applied with mud and burned in fire to give it a black color design. Holes are made in the flute according to size with a hot chisel. Flute of 14 items such as Aar, Bean, Balloon, Classical, Khandani, Parrot, Fancy, Mohan Sanai, Choto Nagin, Baro Nagin, Grenade are made in Srimuddy village.
Flute craftsman Md. Rafiqul Islam said, my grandfather did this work, my father did it, and we are doing it this way. Flute making has been going on in this village for about 150 years. When it comes to Boishakh, the demand for it increases several times. Then everyone worked together.
On Wednesday (April 9), when he went to Srimuddy village in Homna, it was seen that flute making work was going on in every house on the occasion of Baishakh. Some are cutting bamboo to size, some are burning it to design it, some are making holes with a chisel. This work is also done by men, women and children of the village. Even buyers come from far and wide to buy flutes.
Liton Mia, who came to buy flutes from Gouripur in Comilla, said, I work as a flute player in a Baul Sangha. When I need a flute, I come to Srimuddy village. The flute here has a nickname. Many people I know come to this village.
Flute craftsman Md. Abul Kashem Mia said, Srimuddy is a flute village. Nowhere else are so many flutes made except this village. The people of this village sleep at night listening to the melody of the flute and wake up in the morning listening to the melody of the flute. When Baishakh comes, the demand for flute increases. This year is more than the previous year. 24 people are needed to make a flute. We do the work of these 24 people together, 5/6 of us. The effort and cost are high. Sometimes we have to bring people from outside to do the work. Srimuddy village is known as the flute village. The flutes I make are sent to various countries including India, America, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, London, Japan, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, France and the United States. Flute players from big music brand groups come to this village and take their flutes.
Kashem Mia further said that the thin bamboo used for making flutes is collected from Mymensingh, Gauripur, and Chittagong. Later, this bamboo is soaked in water for at least two years. After two years, it is taken out of the water, cut according to size, and dried for another two years. Then, it is applied with mud and burned in fire to give it a black color design. Holes are made in the flute according to size with a hot chisel. Flute of 14 items such as Aar, Bean, Balloon, Classical, Khandani, Parrot, Fancy, Mohan Sanai, Choto Nagin, Baro Nagin, Grenade are made in Srimuddy village.
Flute craftsman Md. Rafiqul Islam said, my grandfather did this work, my father did it, and we are doing it this way. Flute making has been going on in this village for about 150 years. When it comes to Boishakh, the demand for it increases several times. Then everyone worked together.
However, earlier, the work of making flutes at home was done, but now it has decreased. People are working in other professions. I myself work in other professions. I work in flute making in my free time. I was harassed by the police for bringing raw bamboo from Chittagong by truck, he said.
Flute craftsman Abdul Karim Mia said, "My grandfather did flute making, my father did it, I also do it, my sons and daughters do it. This is how we have been running our family. Srimuddy is the village of flute tunes. Flute is made in every house. When Baishakh comes, the demand increases. If you make a flute well, the rhythm and rhythm will be lost. So we take care to keep the tune right.
When we spoke to Homna Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khelalika Chakma about this, she said, Srimody is a traditional village. They have been maintaining this industry for a long time. Many families are making a living from this industry. We are in constant contact with them. We invite them for various events such as Pohela Baishakh and other days. They are being supported by the upazila administration.
Flute craftsman Abdul Karim Mia said, "My grandfather did flute making, my father did it, I also do it, my sons and daughters do it. This is how we have been running our family. Srimuddy is the village of flute tunes. Flute is made in every house. When Baishakh comes, the demand increases. If you make a flute well, the rhythm and rhythm will be lost. So we take care to keep the tune right.
When we spoke to Homna Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Khelalika Chakma about this, she said, Srimody is a traditional village. They have been maintaining this industry for a long time. Many families are making a living from this industry. We are in constant contact with them. We invite them for various events such as Pohela Baishakh and other days. They are being supported by the upazila administration.
