Abbasuddin's songs inspired Bangalee
Muslims
UNB, Dhaka (21 April 2001)
 Paying rich tribute to the memory of late singer Abbasuddin
Ahmed, President Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed has said that steps should be taken so that the
invaluable songs of the great artist do not get lost.
"It is not known if records or cassettes of
songs sung by late Abbasuddin are preserved or easily available. But his songs are
invaluable assets of the country," the President said while addressing the birth
centenary function of the late singer at the National Museum auditorium yesterday.
He said the Bangalee Muslims fall behind in various
fields due to the unequal treatment during alien rule. Rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and
Abbasuddin, through their literary works and songs, had inspired people towards a revival.
"The inspirational songs and poems of poet
Nazrul and the melodious voice of Abbasuddin were complementary to each other," the
President observed.
He said Abbasuddin passed his juvenile days and
youth in the undivided India during the British era. At that time, songs were neglected or
in some cases prohibited in the conservative and superstitious Muslim community.
But braving these barriers, he said, Abbasuddin
moved from one corner of the country to the other and enthralled the peasantry and the
lower and middle classes of Bangalee Muslims with his songs.
The singer got patronisation from Sher-e-Bangla AK
Fazlul Haq, Sir Prafulla Chandra Roy, some liberal Muslim League leaders and rebel poet
Kazi Nazrul Islam, the President added.
Abbasuddin through his songs awakened the backward
Muslims about politics and their rights, he said.
He said the Islamic songs written by Nazrul Islam
and sung by Abbas Uddin were very effective in the cultural renaissance of Bangalee
Muslims. Abbasuddin made very popular various songs, especially the Bhawaiya of north
Bengal and East Bengal's Bhatiali, Murshidi and Marfati.
The President said Abbasuddin was not only an
accomplished singer, but also recognised as a writer through his autobiography, "Amar
Shilpi Jiboner Katha" (My life as an artist).
State Minister for Sports and Youth and Cultural
Affairs Obaidul Quader was present as special guest at the function, presided over by
President of the board of trustees of National Museum Prof Mustafa Nur-ul-Islam.
Dr Karunamaya Goswami and Prof Rafiqul Islam took
part in the discussion.
Daughter of late Abbasuddin, renowned signer
Ferdousi Rahman and Director General of National Museum Shamsuzzaman Khan also spoke on
the occasion. |
