BM Desk:
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized a discussion and music program on the occasion of the 94th birth anniversary of Abdul Halim Bayati, the legendary hero of folk music and freedom fighter Abdul Halim Bayati, at Jatiya Chitrashala auditorium on Thursday evening.
In the presence of his fans and followers, the auditorium filled with people enjoying the songs and tunes written by Abdul Halim Bayati. The emotions of the people of rural Bengal and the traditional melody are felt in the voice of Abdul Halim. At the beginning of the program, the children of Sadhak Halim Bayati welcomed the guest panelists wearing northern clothes. Nishane Halim, director of Halim Academy and son of Abdul Halim Bayati, delivered the welcome speech. Prominent author and trustee of the Bangladesh Liberation War Museum, Mofidul Haque, delivered the speech as the main speaker. In addition, prominent writer and folk culture researcher Simon Zakariawas was present as a speaker.
In the president’s speech, the director general of the academy, Mr. Liaquat Ali Lucky, said:
“Innumerable folk poets like Abdul Halim Bayati have kept alive the rich folk art tradition through our important bauls, including Lalan Hashan. Shilpakala Academy is continuing multi-faceted cultural activities on folk culture; it is expected that you will also play your role in the promotion of folk art”.
Prominent singers from the country performed music in the cultural program. Sanjida Akhtar Kajal and Nuzhat Fatima Awal performed a duet dance at the beginning of the program. Then the sarinda batan also performed. The music was performed by Wasim Kabir Palash, Aleya Begum, Syed Ashiqur Rahman, Sultana Yasmin Laila, Shafi Mondal, Halima Parveen, Asim Roy, and Ripon Sarkar/Hriday Saikat.
The proverbial man of folk music, Abdul Halim Mia, was born on the 15th Kartik of 1336 Banga AD in Bara Doali village under Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district of the Greater Faridpur region. At the age of only 7 years, the child Halim suddenly appeared like a comet in the sky of music and took a permanent seat like a star. After that, he toured various parts of Bengal and India. He did not take music lessons from anyone. This self-taught artist is full of originality. He is revered as an ever-conquering artist. Many proverbs, proverbs, and sayings about this artist without a teacher have been established as truths in the public mind due to his immense success and popularity. Radiant with divine talent, this musician is a legendary figure in the world of folk music.
He turned music into religious music and discovered the way to the liberation of humanity. His spiritual songs recognize the spiritual freedom and sovereignty of people. The content of his songs is diverse. A special genre of folk music, “Bichar Gan,” is a novel creation of his. Apart from being an ideal medium, he made music an educational art.
“Sadhak Haleem used to say he was the creator of the universe and the Lila Niketan of creation. He is the creator of everything, earthly and unearthly, mundane and miraculous, visible and invisible. Knowing the Creator is the ultimate goal of human life. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “He is omnipresent.” He has to be discovered through meditation and knowledge. Who am I? Where did I come from? How did I come? Why did I come? Where will I go again? This question in the human mind is about birth. It is necessary to know life for the sake of life.
And this need is fulfilled only by humans. Passing on the chariot of knowledge on the path of religion, I tried to express the creation through music as much as I was able to know and understand the Creator. I have tried my best to translate the image of my meditation into the proper form as far as I am able to visualize within the limits of knowledge”.
This musician, dedicated to serving the nation and humanity through music, has performed music in support of numerous educational institutions. His music has contributed immensely to social service and social reform. The song written by Abdul Halim Mia is popularly known as “Halim Sangeet”. He has composed numerous (5–6 thousand) songs. So far, seven music books have been published. The books are Halim Sangeet (1947), Halim Music Controversy (1963), Gnan Darpan (1957), and Argument between Musulli and Fakir (1958). 5. Prem Sudha (1965), Parash Ratan (1976), and Creation Theory (1991).
