Ram Kanai Das tells
Renowned classical singer Pundit Ram Kanai Das won Ekushey Padak 2014 for his contribution to the musical arena of the country.
Das, who is also equally proficient in regional songs of Sylhet and Tagore songs, considers the award to be a great inspiration for him.
‘I am really honoured and the award will definitely encourage me to do even better in music,’ said Das in an interview with New Age.
‘I’d like to thank the people of the country, especially the inhabitants of Sylhet, my home district, for the support they have given throughout my music career,’ adds Das, saying that he wishes to continue music till his very last breath.
The seasoned musician also informed that he has also been greatly inspired by veteran Tagore singing couple Wahidul Haque and Sanjida Khatun in his long, eventful career. ‘I am grateful to them for the support and encouragement they have given me,’ said Das.
Ram Kanai Das also said that he has a dream to collect and popularise the baul songs of the Sylhet region. ‘I’ve a dream to preserve the traditional songs of my homeland. I have already collected many of those songs with the help of my elder sister and also a noted singer Sushoma Das and from many other sources,’ said Das, who hopes to complete and publish a book he is writing on those songs as soon as possible.
The life of Ramkanai Das is as interesting as his music is. He was born in 1935 at Shalla Thana in Sunamganj district. His father Rashiklal Das was also a remarkable folk musician. Ramkanai received classical music training from Kalimohan Chakrabarty and tabla training from Sri Shurendramohan Sutradhar. However, as he was determined to become a full-fledged vocal artiste, he chose to give up playing tabla and obtained intense classical vocal training for 12 long years under the guidance of Pundit Umesh Chandra Roy from Brahmanbaria. For his contributions to music, Ramkanai Das has received Rabindra Padak, Ustad Mozammel Hussain Smrity Podok, Urboshi Podok and Channel-I Music Award.
-With New Age input
