Tagore singer Kalim Sharafi, also the founding director of Bangladesh Television, died about 11:45am on Tuesday in his house at Baridhara in the capital at the age of 86.
Kalim, who is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter, was buried in the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard with state honours after his namaz-e-janaza at the Dhaka University Central Mosque after asr prayers.
His body was earlier kept at the Central Shaheed Minar for public viewing where cultural and political organisations paid their
tributes to the singer. The president’s military secretary Major General Abul Kalam Md Humayun Kabir laid a wreath on the coffin on behalf of the president, Zillar Rahman, and the prime minister’s military secretary Brigadier General Saifuzzaman paid tributes on behalf of the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.
The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, and the state minister for cultural affairs, Pramod Mankin also paid their tributes to the singer at the Shaheed Minar.
The president in a message expressed his shock at the death and paid tribute to him. He recalled the life of the celebrated singer, saying that he was a luminous star of the music arena. ‘His contribution
to the development of music will be ever remembered.’
The prime minister also in a message expressed her shock at the death. She said the death of Kalim Sharafi, also a freedom fighter,
was an irreparable loss to music and cultural arena of the Bengalis. ‘The nation will ever remember his positive contribution to building a non-communal and progressive society as well as the national struggle.’
The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, also the leader of opposition in parliament, in a message, also expressed her shock at the death. She said he was a dedicated artist. ‘A huge vacuum has been created in the music arena at his death.’
Different organisations also expressed their shock at the death. Bangladesh Communist Party, Bangladesh Workers Party, Bangladesh Chhatra Maitri, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Sangeet Bhaban, Bangladesh Juba Maitri, Bangladesh Anti-Tobacco Alliance and Work for Better Bangladesh paid their tributes.
Kalim, who was born at Khairadighi in West Bengal on May 8, 1924, became interested in music at an early age when he met some renowned artists of the pre-independent India. He was fascinated by Tagore’s compositions and melodies.
Sharafi joined the Quit India movement in 1942. He was arrested by the police under the Defence of India Act at his village. After his release, he was made secretary to the Birbhum District Students’ Federation.
In 1944, he joined Indian People’s Theatre Movement. He first sang people’s songs before hundreds of people in Hazra Park in Kolkata. He later joined Shubho Guhathakurta’s music school Dakshini in 1947 and the next year he, along with others, set up the cultural organisation Bahurupi.
He came to Dhaka in 1950. After spending some days in Dhaka, he went Chittagong and opened theatre troupe Prantik. During the rule of Ayub Khan, his songs were banned from being played on radio.
In 1968, he was appointed the first programme director of the television channel in Dhaka. He became involved with Satyan Sen in Udichi activities in 1969 and he had been its president and organiser for about five years beginning 1977.
In 1983, he set up a music school, Sangeet Bhaban, and he had been the principal of the institution until his death. He was president of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha.
He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1985 for his contribution to culture and Swadhinata Padak in 1999.
He was also honoured with Nasiruddin Swarnapadak and Begum Jebunnessa O Mahabubullah Swarnapadak.
He performed in programmes in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Switzerland, China and Russia.
