'Baul Samrat' Shah Abdul Karim Dies

Legendary folk and mystic lyricist and singer, Shah Abdul Karim, died from old-age complications at a Sylhet clinic Saturday. He was 94.
His son Shah Nur Jalal said Karim breathed his last at around 7:55am.
The self-taught natural poet, revered as Baul Samrat, was brought to the Nurjahan Poly Clinic in Sylhet city from his home at Ujandhal in Derai upazila of Sunamganj on September 3 and was on life support since Friday.
As the news spread, his admirers rushed to the hospital and a pall of gloom descended in Sylhet as in musical arena all over the country.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her deep shock at the death of the legendary mystic singer. ‘The loss is irreparable for Bengali culture,’ she said in a condolence message.
The body of the legend was later kept lying in state at the Sylhet Central Shaheed for an hour for public viewing. People from all walks of life walked past the coffin in solemn silence and paid their tributes.
The first funeral prayers of the mystic poet were held at Hazrat Shahjalal’s shrine, attended by hundreds of admirers of Shah Abdul Karim.
Later, the body has been kept in the mortuary of Sylhet Diabetic Hospital and will be taken to his birthplace Ujandhal of Derai Sunday morning where he will be laid to rest beside his wife, Sarala, at the family graveyard, family sources said.
Activities of the cultural organisations in the north-eastern region came to a halt at the shocking news.
Born on February 15, 1916 in the marshlands of Ujandhal, Karim went to a night school for seven days only. He grew up with poverty and hardship and began expressing his thoughts and emotions in the form of music from very early age.
Poverty forced him to get into agricultural labour but could stop him from composing and singing mystic and folk songs. He received training on spiritual and baul music from Kamal Uddin, Sadhak Rashid Uddin, and Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh.
He went on learning all the exclusive streams of Baul song inspired by the philosophies of Lalan Shah, Panju Shah and Duddu Shah.
He was awarded with the Ekushey Padak in 2001 for his outstanding musical achievements. He also received Drohi Katha Sahityik Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award in 2000. Karim also had been awarded with Citycell-Channel i Music Award, Meril-Prothom-Alo Award, Ragib-Rabeya Literary Award, Idea Award, Abhimat Award and Sylhet City Corporation Award.
Shah Abdul Karim wrote and composed over 1600 songs published in six volumes. They are Aftab Sangeet, Gana Sangeet, Kalnir Dheu, Dholmela, Bhatir Chithi and Kalnir Kuley. The Bangla Academy also has published the translation of ten lyrics of Shah Abdul Karim.
Agey ki sundar din kataitam, Gari chalena, Jhil mil jhil mil kare, Ashi bale gelo bandhu, Maya lagaichhe, Ami kulhara kalankini, Ami tomar kaler gari, Sakhi kunjo sajao and Basanta batase are some of his popular notes, remixed with modern instruments by various bands and echoed through Bangla audiences of all ages home and abroad.