Farmers’ Game Show  

What is that? Farmers’ Game Show? Yes, we have heard a bit about this kind of game shows probably in the western countries. And, those shows are more known as farm games. But, the western farmers lead a very different sort of a life than ours. Our farmers have started their life from tribulations…then sufferings and then sorrows. Very few have come out from their struggling lifestyle…how could they ever think of playing games…having a bit of refreshment? Our farmers don’t need two-storied building with a luxurious life. What they want is just a bit of relaxation-something which would really comfort them and would give them hope to survive in the long run. They would also like to have a bit of entertainment to come out of those tribulations all around them. Having that on mind, Shykh Seraj, for the very first time in Bangladesh, started Farmers’ Game Show, ‘Krishoker Eid Anondo’ (Farmers’ Eid Delight). Eid is the most festive occasion of Bangladesh and the whole country enjoys these 3-5 days or even 7 days of break. Shykh Seraj thought there are so many entertaining programmes on various television channels all over the country. And, mostly, the television programmes sell entertaining programmes, which carry luxury, glamour and all those money-spinning terms engaged with that. Shykh Seraj thought why not affiliating the farmers with entertainment, even in the leading agricultural documentary, Hridoye Mati O Manush. Shykh Seraj chalked out doing something different but worthwhile for the farmers. The idea was very much simple. To bring smiles on the faces of the farmers…and to awake all the other citizens who don’t have time to think on agriculture or the distressed farmers. Krishoker Eid Anondo shooting started prior to the Eid-ul-Fitr (2007). Shykh targeted to present this game show to on the Eid programmes of Channel-i. Great teamwork was needed to be done. There were so many games in the basket. The basket is nothing but Shykh’s creative basket. He came out with excellent ideas. Let’s say, the events were seed sowing, implementing granule Urea, bhela race, obstacle human race, climbing oiled banana trees, the donga race of the children on betel-nut branch, Jabbar’s boli, thenga race or ranpa, swimming in the Jamuna, cracking soil-pot by eye folded women, pillow fight of the elders and chocolate race. Basically, Krishoker Eid Anondo intends to revive the traditional heritage of our country.

Farmers’ Game Show, ‘Krishoker Eid Anondo’ (Farmers’ Eid Delight) started having the focus in mind to inspire the devastated and destitute farmers, specially who fought with the consecutive twin-floods and fearsome cyclone, Sidr (2007). History was made on the electronic media for the very first time in Bangladesh, as these traditional games of the farmers were never being brought on the television with such attraction and glamour. People all around the country were flooded with endless joy while watching the programme. Everybody praised this wonderful and touchy concept of Shykh Seraj. “Let’s stand beside the farmers with a little bit of delight, which will encourage them, even if they are mentally distressed. Let’s bring smile on their faces…” That is how Shykh Seraj thinks. Through the show, ten families affected by river erosion, were given ten new homes.

Krishoker Boishakhi Anando (Farmers’ Boishakhi Flourishment)

The most popular agro-documentary television programme of Channel-i, Hridoye Mati O Manush had arranged previously the first-ever game-show, Krishoker Eid Anando (Farmers’ Eid Delight) - everybody certainly has a fresh memory of the programme. The last two editions of Krishoker Eid Anando during last year’s (2007) Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha occasions were truly remarkable. Generally, glamour is given the preference as the main ingredient in the television programmes; entertainment lies behind the glamour. And, the entertainment circles only around the city-dwellers. The marginal farmers who are tirelessly feeding the city people, we just don’t have any planning for them! We don’t even feel the urge to bring smile on their faces. We have only become busy with our part of entertainment. While focusing upon bringing smile on the farmers’ faces, eminent media personality and agriculture development activist Shykh Seraj, in his own concept, direction and presentation had televised Krishoker Eid Anando on Channel-i last year. The previous programme versions had distinct perspective. After the two consecutive floods and the outrageous Sidr of the last year, Hridoye Mati O Manush stood next to the distressed and devastated farmers, just to inspire the marginal populace who were affected severely by these natural disasters.