Lesson 2: The art of silence

In the primitive age communications took place between humans through signs and
gestures. As humans began to use their vocal chords, these silent gestures were no
longer used as the primary means of communication. But they did not completely
disappear. They evolved as a form of art, used to entertain thousands, and came to be
known as ‘mime’.
Mime touched a little boy’s heart while he was watching a performance in his
village. He was so fascinated by the show that he was determined to master this art.
He is no other than Partha Pratim Majumder, who won the world’s highest award in
mime- Moliere Award.

Partha is undoubtedly a forerunner in the field of mime in Bangladesh. He started as
a musician and his keen sense of rhythm helped him to let his limbs move and
express his surroundings through gestures.
Partha Pratim Majumder is the first Bangladeshi to take up mime as a profession. He
performed in a number of television shows in Bangladesh and gained popularity. In
his mime, Majumder depicted the day-to-day life of the people. There was sadness,
tears as well as happiness and laughter.
Majumder’s turning point of life came in 1979, when he was asked to give a solo
performance in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The then French ambassador Loic
Moreau happened to be among the audience. Mr. Moreau noticed the talent in
Majumder. In 1981, the French Government offered him a scholarship so that he
could get professional training in mime. This was the first time that a student was
granted a French scholarship in mime. Majumder started his training under the
legendry maestro, Etiene Decroux. Through Decroux, he met another celebrated
mime artist named Marcel Marceau. Marceau has transformed modern mime by
taking it to an unimaginable height.
Marceau was very impressed by the Bangladeshi young talent and offered him a
place in his school for mime, named ‘Ecole Internationale de Mimodrame de Paris-
Marcel Marceau’. This school is the biggest and the best in the world.
During his three years training period, Majumder practiced 16-18 hours daily till
each and every bone in his body would feel like breaking.
After his time with Marceau, there was no looking back for Majumder. He staged
solo performances in England, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy and the USA. French,
Canadian and American TV channels enthusiastically aired his shows.
[adapted from the Star: Weekly Publication of The Daily Star, 27 January 2012]