Culture Desk
Noted singers Tapan Mahmud and Bishwajit Roy have been respectively reelected president and general secretary of Bangladesh Sangeet Sangathan Samannay Parishad at the third national convention of the organisation recently. The event was held at Music and Dance Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Segunbagicha in the city.
The day-long convention also featured a short cultural show where artistes from across the country performed.
Besides, a 31-member committee of BSSSP was also declared. Eighty artistes from 40 BSSSP member organisations from across the country participated at the day-long event.Tapan Mahmud is a distinguished exponent of Rabindra Sangeet who specialises in correct grammatical orientation of tunes, forms and formulations of Tagore’s compositions. He has devoted himself towards disseminating Rabindra Sangeet throughout the country through his active involvement with the prestigious Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha of Bangladesh.
Commencing his musical career at the young age of 5 years in 1958 under tutelage of Late Narayan Chandra Saha, Late Fazle Nizami and Late Arabinda Bishwas, Tapan Mahmud has been rendering Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Modern Bangla Songs and Songs of Atul Prasad, Rajani Kanto and D. L. Roy at the Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as a Special Grade artist since 1969. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, he joined the Swadheen Bangla Betar Kendra and also rendered voice as a Rabindra Sangeet artist for the Akashbani Radio of Kolkata at that time.
Tapan Mahmud has been the Founder General Secretary of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha from 1988 to 2011 and presently holds the post of President of the organisation. He has also served as senior teacher of Rabindra Sangeet and later as principal of the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts from 1979 to 2008.
Tapan Mahmud has travelled to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia as member of the Government and private cultural delegations for performances.
Bishwajit Roy is an accomplished Nazrul singer and has trained at Chhayanaut. Among his gurus are Mithun Dey and Sanjib Dey. Bishwajit is also the founder director of cultural organisation ‘Nibedon’.
His songs are not only popular in Sylhet but also in the adjacent areas like Maulvibazar, Comilla and Mymensingh. He was born in Fandauk village in Brahmanbaria.
The singer’s mother Suruchi Bala Roy used to regularly take part in the Kirtan; she was an ardent admirer of Radha Raman, and used to sing his compositions in her leisure. When the singer was a child, these songs made very little sense to him.
From 2003 the singer started making occasional trips to various places in Sylhet and neighbouring areas in search of Radha Raman compositions. He collected nearly 250 songs from Habiganj, Sunamganj, Jagannathpur, Dirai, Srimangal, Shayestaganj, Maulvibazar and other areas, from individuals, local folk groups and artistes.
Some of his famous songs are “Amarey Ashibar Kotha Koiya”, “Orey O Roshik Naiya”, “Kala-e Poranti Nilo”, “Aaj Kenorey Pran-er Shubol”, “Piriti Bishom Jala’, “Amar Ontorey Tusher-i Onol”, “Joley Jaio Nago Rai”, “Ami Jaar Karoney Brindabon-erey’, “Pashan Monrey Bujhaiyo”, “Ashbey Shyam Kaliya” and more.
