Living legend of Nazrul Sangeet Feroza Begum was honoured by the Paschimbanga government, India with the Nazrul Sammanana Award-2012 on Friday on the 113th birth anniversary of the National Poet of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Chief minister of Paschimbanga Mamata Banerjee handed over a crest and token money to the veteran Bangladeshi singer at a cultural programme organised by the state government marking the special day at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata.
Earlier in last April, Feroza Begum was awarded Maha Sangeet Samman Award by the Paschimbanga government at the Bangla Sangeet Mela celebrating the rich musical variety in the Indian state and in Bangladesh.
‘I am very pleased that Kolkata remembers me,’ after winning the Maha Sangeet Samman Award, Feroza Begum in a recent interview, whose illustrious music career was nurtured in Kolkata under the guidance of Nazrul himself and legendary composer Kamol Dasputa, who subsequently married her told New Age.
‘I received the award for my contribution to Nazrul Sangeet and adhunik gaan (contemporary songs) as well,’ said the versatile singer, who was enlisted with Akashbani Kolkata under the contemporary music category and used to present Nazrul Sangeet, Rabindra Sangeet, thumri, dhadra, ghazals, bhajan, geet and folk songs. But, at the beginning of the 1960s, she concentrated only on Nazrul Sangeet.
Her bold and revolutionary attitude gave Nazrul Sangeet a rebirth in Kolkata at a time when the music scenario was dominated by adhunik gaan (contemporary song) in 1960s. Taking help from leading cultural personalities, she initiated to organise a three-day Nazrul Conference at Mahajati Sadan to generate interest on Nazrul Sangeet in Kolkata.
Feroza Begum was the Programme Secretary where legendary singers like Chitta Roy, Shyamal Mitra, Shatinath, Manobendra Mukhapadhyay, Shandhya Mukharjee, Pratima Banarjee rendered Nazrul Sangeet while Tarashankar Bandypadhyay, Probadh Shanyal, Nalini Kanta Sarkar, Baroda Guho, Budhadev Basu and others presented papers at the conference. ‘The legends participated in the conference being invited by me,’ recalled the singer.
She was one of the two singers to render songs during the inauguration of the Pakistan radio’s regional office in Dhaka. Feroza Begum sang O bhai khanti sonar cheye khanti amar desher mati at the event. ‘The authority of the station initially did not want to air Bangla song at the event. I had to fight for rendering Bangla song at the inauguration programme and they had to concede defeat against my determination.’ She claimed, ‘It was public demand which forced Pakistan government to repeatedly invite me in many cultural programmes.’
Feroza Begum returned permanently in Dhaka 1968 with her three sons. Kamol Dasgupta joined them in the following year. The octogenarian singer is still continuing her career. Last time she performed at the Kamol Dasgupta’s 100th birth anniversary celebration at Shilpakala Academy in this month.
Moreover Feroza Begum is credited with awards like Shahdhinata Puroshkar. She has been awarded the D Lit title from Bardhaman University of India, as recognition of her special contribution in the musical arena.
-With New Age input
