Workshop in Dhaka to train young Catholic writers
The 24th edition of a creative writing workshop ended today, organised by the Bangladesh Catholic Students Movement along with the Bishops’ Conference. Some 35 students followed courses taught by professionals in literature and publishing. For organisers, these youths will play “an important role in the life of the country” and the Church.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) – The Bangladesh Catholic Students Movement (BCSM) has organised an annual writers’ workshop for more than 20 years in cooperation with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).
Some 35 college and university students attended this year’s edition, the 24th, at the CBCB centre in Dhaka. For five days, from 28 April until today, the budding writers took part in seminars on literature and creative writing.
Dipon Ghorama is one of them. "I learnt how to write more aptly fiction and poetry,” he said. “I also learnt the history of Bengali fiction and got some writing tips from prominent writers.”
The BCSM is a lay group founded in 1991 that promotes faith in tertiary level Bangladeshi students through, among other things, cultural activities.
At the workshop, students took part in classes taught by professional writers and established journalists. They also visited a local newspaper.
“A select number of Catholic youths came from around the country,” said Br Ripon Gomes, secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Youth. “They learnt how to write, and how to develop their passion.” The goal “is to train more skilled Christian writers so that they can contribute to mainstream media.”
The workshop is divided in various courses, including the history of Bengali literature, and the responsibilities of writers and journalists.
“I was not a serious writer,” said Eshita Maghi, another of the students, “but by taking part in the five-day workshop I was encouraged to write more by experienced writers."
More importantly, "I realised that being a Christian writer also involves writing about the values of Jesus and the Gospel. I shall take my cues from the Bible in my writing."
“Being a writer carries responsibilities to our society and Church,” said BCSM president William Norrek. “For this reason, we have to teach what is right from what is wrong in literature.”
Since its inception, the BCSM workshop has trained scores of students who later found work in publishing and journalism.
For workshop organisers, the Church wants to see young people educated to be good citizens capable of playing an important role in the life of the country. Only this way can they be free from the slavery of consumerism and materialism.
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