Kalim Sharafi

Kalim Sharafi ( _bn. কলিম শরাফী) (b. 8 May, 1924) is a renowned Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet singer and cultural revolutionary. Noushaba Khatun is his wife. He gave his ideas in several publications regarding politics, culture, and Tagore. He is regarded as one of the best Rabindra sangeet singers in the subcontinent.Citation
last =Karim
first =Elita
author-link =
last2 =
first2 =
author2-link =
title =An Inspiring Force in Music
newspaper =Star Weekend Magazine, The Daily Star
pages =
year =2007
date =
url =http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2007/07/03/cover.htm]

Early life

Kalim Sharafi was born in Birbhun village of West Bengal on 8 May, 1924. His family was a part of a pir family who came from Sonargaon. His passion for music blossomed at an early age as he came across with renowned artists of pre-independent India. He said, "As a child I used to find Rabindranath’s compositions naturally melodic and heart touching and would grasp them easily".

Politics

Sharafi was involved in politics at the age of 18 as he joined the Quit India movement in 1942. Consequently, he was arrested by the police from his village and spent more than a year in prison with other activists. However he was the only Muslim among them.

Career

Kalim Sharafi was the founding director of Bangladesh Television in 1964. He was a follower of Communism which predominantly disheartened his musical carrier. He was banned from both of the state running media BTV and Bangladesh Betar as a result of his political ideology. Sharafi also worked in Bangladesh Textile Corporation for a while. He is the current president of the "Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha".

Family

Sharafi married Noushaba Khatun and have five children including one son and four daughters.

Honors

Sharafi was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1985 and Shadhinota Padak in 1999.

References