Humiliation has destroyed my career, says Bengali violinist
June 15th, 2012 - 8:16 pm ICT by Aishwarya BhattLondon, June 15 (THAINDIAN NEWS) A Bengali violin player claims that his music career has been destroyed after his name was replaced by an offensive term in the official program of the annual Baishakhi Mela Festival.
Abdul Shahid who has toured around the world, including nine times in the US, said he now has to endure an immense humiliation, after his first name was substituted for the Bengali words for “pubic hair” in the more than 85,000 copies of the program. The program was circulated by Tower Hamlets council for the Baishakhi Mela Festival last year.
The violinist has now filed a legal suit to Tower Hamlets council for more than £300,000 for damages. The musician claims that he has been subject to immense humiliation, which has made him unable to perform. His performances were regularly broadcasted on Bangladesh’s TV channels. He now claims that he has to remain indoors for fear of ridicule.
Shahid, from Aldgate, has declared that he had an urgent meeting with the head of culture and leisure of Tower Hamlets council, Heather Bonfield, and with the corporate director of communities and culture, Steven Halsey. Nevertheless, the council was not able to stop printing the programs, according to the violinist.
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Tags: aldgate, bengali, bonfield, corporate director, damages, halsey, heather, humiliation, legal suit, music career, musician, nine times, offensive term, ridicule, s tv, shahid, tower hamlets council, tv channels, violin player, violinist