Today is the third death anniversary of the legendary baul musician Shah Abdul Karim (February 15, 1916 – September 12, 2009). One of the most influential baul composers from the greater Sylhet region Shah Abdul Karim was born and brought up in the village of Ujan Dhol, in Derai Upazila of Sunamganj.
He lived there until his death.
Many musicologists and folklore researchers consider him the most influential after Hason Raja from the Sylhet region, which has a great tradition of baul music.
Poverty forced Shah Abdul Karim to get into agricultural labour at his early days. But nothing could stop him from making good music. As he was growing up, he received training on spiritual and baul music only from Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh. Subsequently, he became a disciple of Shah Ibrahim Mostan.
Baul Shah Abdul Karim has written and composed over 1600 songs which have been published in six volumes of songs titled Aftab Sangeet, Gano Sangeet, Kalnir Dheu, Dholmela, Bhatir Chithi and Kalnir Kooley.
Though he took music as devotion and composed songs for the delight of his soul, his compositions like ‘Jil mil jil mil kore’, ‘Bonde maya lagaise’, ‘Ashi bole gelo bandhu’, ‘Kano piritee barailarey bondhu’, ‘Gari cholena cholena’, ‘Ami kulhara kolonkini’, ‘Agey ki shundor din kataitham’, ‘Ami tomar koler gari’, ‘Shokhi kunjo shajao’, ‘Bashonto batashey’, ‘Krishno aila radhar kunje’ and others got huge popularity amongst the Bangla speaking people across the globe.
However, with the recent trend of popular ‘modern’ versions of his (and other) baul songs, he is now widely recognised and honoured by people from all ages and from all walks of life.
Though much belated, his contributions to Bengali Music has now been officially recognised by the state and its people. Bangla Academy has translated ten of his songs into English language. As recognition of his creativity Shah Abdul Karim was awarded the Ekushey Padak in the year 2001 for his outstanding musical achievements.
He died in Sylhet on September 12, 2009 at the age of 96 after suffering from respiratory problems.
Marking his death anniversary, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshthi’s Dhaka University has organised a music programme at the Dhaka University today.
-With New Age input
