Chakma Raj

Jharna Roy Chakma, wife of Kumar Nandit Roy and daughter-in-law of late Raja Nalinaksha Roy was honoured with an award by the Rangamati District Council and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy for her outstanding contribution to Chakma Dance. She is daughter of Late Shushil Jeeban Chakma and Pratima Chakma, who supported and encouraged her to get formal training in dance. She was the first to choreograph Chakma dance. Chakmas as Warriors didnt have any particular dance forms like other ethnic groups. This lacking inspired her to create dances based on the lifestyle and festivals of Chakmas. She created the 'Jum dance' based on the 'slash and burn' cultivation process of Chakmas which is till date danced by Chakma women in many cultural programs. One of her many choreography was the 'Bijhu dance' which she created based on the men and women traditionally circling the temple in 'Mahamuni mela'. She along with her friend Shikha Dewan also won the East Pakistan Runner up prize in the folk dance category by performing indigenous Bamboo Dance around 70's. Her significant contribution to our culture and community in terms of dance art was recognised with an award from the Rangamati District Council and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. We salute her today for being a symbol of strength, creativity, and pioneering a dance form for our community