Baul Shah Abdul Karim ( bn, শাহ আবদুল করিম; 15 February 1916 — 12 September 2009) was a Bangladeshi

Baul The Baul ( bn, বাউল) are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Sufism, Vaishnavism and Tantra from Bangladesh and the neighboring Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam's Barak Valley and Meghalaya. Bauls cons ...

musician. He was awarded the

Ekushey Padak Ekushey Padak ( bn, একুশে পদক; lit. "Twentyfirst Award") is the second highest civilian award in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Bengali Language Movement of 1952. The award is given to recognize contribut ...

in 2001 by the

Government of Bangladesh The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh ( bn, গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ সরকার — ) is the central executive government of Bangladesh. The government was constituted by the Co ...

. Some of his notable songs include "Agey Ki Shundor Din Kataitam", "Keno Piriti Baraila Re Bondhu", "Murshid Dhono He Kemone Chinibo Tomare", "Nao Banailo Banailo Re Kon Mestori", "Ashi Bole Gelo Bondhu" and "Mon Mojale Ore Bawla Gaan". He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Baul musicians. He referred to his compositions as ''Baul Gaan''. Unlike bauls who are not married and have children, Shah Abdul Karim was married and had a son.

Early life

Karim was born on 15 February 1911 in Derai in

Sunamganj Sunamganj ( bn, সুনামগঞ্জ) is a town in the Sylhet Division of northeastern Bangladesh. It is the administrative headquarters and largest town of Sunamganj District. It is located on the banks of the Surma River, approximately ...

, Sylhet. He first learnt music from Baul Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh. In 1957, Karim had started living in Ujan Dhol, a village near his home, with his wife, Sarala Bibi.

Personal life

Karim had a son named Shah Nur Jalal. Karim died in Sylhet on 12 September 2009 due to respiratory problems.

Works

Karim wrote and composed over 1600 songs. The

Bangla Academy The Bangla Academy ( bn, বাংলা একাডেমি, ) is an autonomous institution funded by the Bangladesh government to foster the Bengali language, literature and culture, to develop and implement national language policy and to d ...

has translated ten of his songs into the English language. Karim's songs are organized in six books: * ''Aftab Sangeet'' (1948) * ''Gano Sangeet'' (1957) * ''Kalnir Dheu'' (1981) * ''Dholmela'' (1990) * ''Bhatir Chithi'' (1998) * ''Kalnir Kooley'' (2001)

Notable songs

References

1916 births 2009 deaths People from Derai Upazila 20th-century Bangladeshi male singers 20th-century Bangladeshi singers Bangladeshi lyricists Bangladeshi music directors Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime Achievement Award winners {{Bangladesh-singer-stub