Epitomising Tagore songs

That was so typical of Kalim Sharafi, or Kalim Bhai, as he is known to us. No sooner had I arrived at his Bailey Heights apartment, he'd become a busy host.

"There's actually an anecdote behind my question..." went on Sharafi. "Tagore had often frequented the hill station, Mongpu at Darjeeling. There, the host, and author Maitreyi Devi had once asked Tagore if he wanted cream or sugar with his tea, he'd answered "I drink tea mainly for cream and sugar".

That was the other side of Kalim Bhai. If he wasn't on stage performing Rabindra sangeet or leafing through Tagore's work in his free time, he was reminiscing on Tagore's quips. For a man who had performed Rabindra sangeet for over six decades and was known as "the man with the golden voice" not only to the audience but the musical greats such as Devabrata Biswas, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Suchitra Mitra, Kanika Banerjee as well, this was hardly surprising.

Even within the various niches of Rabindra sangeet, Sharafi, is perhaps most loved for his timeless patriotic songs. In fact, his association with the political movement of his generation has been one of the key inspiration behind his songs.

"Many people would actually be surprised that I didn't get admitted to Shantiniketan because of my political convictions! I was seen as "left leaning" and that didn't go well with Professor Anil Chandra, the principal at that time," said Sharafi.

"While I was in jail, I had come into contact with several people such as Pronob Guhothakurta who was arrested from Shantiniketan. I got the taste of Tagore songs from him and was soon inspired into singing the songs.

Reading my thoughts, he immediately went on. "Why was I in jail? Those were the turbulent days of Quit India movement initiated by Gandhiji. I had appeared for my matriculation. During this time many of us were arrested and sent to jail for 11 months. In fact, in jail, I had come into contact with some noted pro-Liberation leaders like Kamoda Prasad Mukherji, Kobiraj Nrisingho Sen, Dinkor Koishik and more.

"Tagore songs, particularly his patriotic songs like Je tomaye chharey chharuk aami tomaye chharbo na ma, Nai nai bhoy hobey hobey joi, were sung to inflame the anti British feelings even more! What could match the patriotic songs such as Banglar mati Banglar Jol, Aji Bangladesher hridoy hotey, Sharthok jonom amar jonmeychhi ei deshey and many more. The songs were imbued with patriotic flavour and reflected the desire for a society free from exploitation," he added.

Tagore's life as a composer extended for 67 years, which can be divided into three phases. The first phase (1881-1900) he devoted to composing bhanga gaan -- or songs modelled after existing Hindustani songs. In the second phase, of experimentation, he started composing songs on the basis of raga structure. Most of Tagore's patriotic songs were composed during this period. In the third phase, (1921-1941) he combined poetry, folk and classical melodies.

Although his creative career began as a composer of patriotic songs, these numbered to only 60, as compared to his variety of songs numbering to 2500. In fact, Tagore's earliest patriotic song Tomari torey Ma shopinu ei deha was composed in 1875 when he was only 14.

When Sharafi joined Indian Peoples Theatre (IPTA), renowned singers Suchitra Mitra, Hemanta Mukherjee and Debabrata Biswas frequented the organisation and that's how he rubbed shoulders with the stalwarts and his interest in Tagore songs was spurred on. It is at the same time his guru, Shubho Guhothakurta, made a tremendous impact in his development as an artiste, added Sharafi.

Current president, of Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha, octogenarian Sharafi's contribution to the cultural setting in Bangladesh is well noted. Around 1957, he along with professor Anisur Rahman and Dr Rafiqul Islam organised several cultural programmes, including dance drama Tasher Desh by Tagore in Dhaka under the banner of Hojoborola.

Sharafi, an epitome of Rabindra sangeet, continues to inspire generations of music lovers. His unmatched rendition of patriotic songs resonate in the hearts of millions across the nation and beyond.