Kalim Sharafi (8 May 1924 – 2 November 2010) was a Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet singer. He gave his ideas in several publications regarding politics, culture, and Tagore. He is regarded as one of the best Rabindra Sangeet singers in the subcontinent.

Early life

Sharafi was born in

Birbhum Birbhum district () is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the northernmost district of Burdwan division—one of the five administrative divisions of West Bengal. The district headquarters is in Suri. Other impo ...

district of

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

on 8 May 1924. He was the only son of three children. He had two younger sisters. He was from a pir family, a tradition against music, and they came from

Sonargaon Sonargaon ( bn, সোনারগাঁও; pronounced as ''Show-naar-gaa''; lit. ''Golden Hamlet'') is a historic city in central Bangladesh. It corresponds to the Sonargaon Upazila of Narayanganj District in Dhaka Division. Sonargaon is on ...

. He was first influenced by his father who was a singer. His passion for music blossomed at an early age as he came across with renowned artists of pre-independent

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. He said, "As a child I used to find Rabindranath's compositions naturally melodic and heart touching and would grasp them easily".

Politics

Sharafi was involved in politics at the age of 18 as he joined the Quit India movement in 1942. Consequently, he was arrested by the police from his village and spent more than a year in prison with other activists. It was in prison that his passion for Rabindranath Tagore was rekindled. During this period of his life, he became a member of Popular Theatre Association, which in Bengali is referred to as Bharatiyo Gononatya Shangha. He was important in breaking down barriers that prevented women from becoming involved in theater. As a result of his beliefs in communism, he was banned from the state-run radio

Bangladesh Betar Bangladesh Betar ( bn, বাংলাদেশ বেতার; ), or BB is the state-owned radio broadcaster of Bangladesh, initially established as the Dhaka station of All India Radio in 1939. It was later made part of Radio Pakistan. After t ...

, which hurt his musical career. During the Bangladesh Language Movement, Tagore was also banned.

Career

He co-directed the 1962 film '' Sonar Kajol'' along with Zahir Raihan. Sharafi was a program director at

Pakistan Television Corporation Pakistan Television Corporation ( ur, ; reporting name: PTV) is the Pakistani state-owned broadcaster. Pakistan entered the television broadcasting age in 1964, with a pilot television station established at Lahore. Background Historical co ...

between 1964 and 1967. From 1969 and 1972, he was general manager of the Pakistan Gramophone Company Ltd. Sharafi also worked in Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation between 1974 and 1976. He was also the founder principal of the music school Sangeet Bhaban in 1983 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He served as the president of the "Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha".

Family

Sharafi married Noushaba Khatun and had five children including one son and four daughters.

Death

Sharafi died at his residence on 2 November 2010 at the age of 86. He was buried in the Martyred Intellectuals' Graveyard.

Honors

Sharafi was awarded

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 1985 and Shadhinota Padak in 1999. He received the first Rabindra Award 2010 for his contribution in promoting and preserving Rabindra Sangeet.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharafi, Kalim 20th-century Bangladeshi male singers 20th-century Bangladeshi singers Bengali musicians 2010 deaths 1924 births Rabindra Sangeet exponents Recipients of the Independence Day Award Recipients of the Ekushey Padak Burials at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard Honorary Fellows of Bangla Academy Meril-Prothom Alo Lifetime Achievement Award winners Singers from West Bengal