The virtuoso singer turns 80

Octogenarian Kalim Sharafi (2-R) flanked by (L-R) Jamaluddin Hossain, Anup Bhattacharya and Professor Nawshaba Khatun. BRSSA artistes are seen at the background

Born in the early 1920s, Sharafi was an activist of the Quit India Movement in the 1940s and was imprisoned for over a year. Later he joined the Indian Public Theatre Association (IPTA) in the music squad. He also worked with the legendary theatre activist of the subcontinent Shambhu Mitra. In addition, he stood against the communal riots between Hindus and Muslims.

Later, he joined the music institution Dakkhini where he found the great singer Shailojaranjan Majumdar as his guru. He was also an active member of the then newly established theatre group Bahurupi where legends like Shambhu Mitra, Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Tripti Mitra and Muhammad Israil were also involved.

In the early 1950s, Sharafi established the cultural organisation Prantik which gained widespread popularity through its contribution to Bangla culture.

Sharafi's first ever playback single, a Tagore song, was for the film Akash Ar Mati in 1957. He also directed a movie titled Shonar Kajol in 1960. From 1988 onwards he has actively involved with BRSSA.

He has worked for the welfare of the country's cultural arena and has often become the target of the autocratic rulers. As a result, he suffered imprisonment several times, lost his job and was even blacklisted. However, as a true cultural activist, he never compromised.

The celebration programme started with the National Anthem by the singers of BRSSA. The co-chairman of the association Anup Bhattacharya, Sharafi's wife Professor Nawshaba Khatun, theatre activist Jamaluddin Hossain, General Secretary of BRSSA Tapan Mahmud spoke on the occasion. Theatre activists Ataur Rahman, Keramat Mewla, Mumtajuddin Ahmed, Tagore singer Rezwana Chowdhury Bonnya also paid their tributes.

Sharafi was given a crest, gifts and hundreds of bouquets and garlands by different cultural organisations, music institutes and theatre groups. The performers rendered the song Hey nuton dekha dik barbar when he was being presented with the crest.

Sharafi expressed his gratitude to the organisations.

The programme marked the closing ceremony of the three-day Tagore festival organised by the BRSSA followed by a cultural session.