The 99th birth anniversary of Baul Samrat Shah Abdul Karim is being observed today (Sunday).


Baul Samrat Shah Abdul Karim is a pioneering figure in Bangla folk music. He was born into a peasant family at Ujan Dhol village under Derai Upazila in Sunamganj district on February 15, 1916.


Growing up with poverty and hardship, he started expressing his thoughts and emotions musically from a very early age. Ektara, a traditional single string instrument, has been his constant companion.


However, poverty forced him to get into agricultural labour. As he was growing up, he received training on spiritual and baul music from Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh.


The folk maestro was barely literate. He also got his musical lessons from Ustad Karam Uddin and Rashid Uddin.


Baul Shah authored about 1500 songs and some six books. The Bangla Academy translated 10 songs of him into English.
Karim could have carved a niche in the hearts of millions by presenting some hit numbers like, ‘Jhil mil jhil mil korey’, ‘Bonde maya lagaichhe’, ‘Ashi bole gelo bondhu’, ‘Keno piritee barailarey bondhu’, ‘Gari cholena cholena’, ‘Ami koolhara kolonkini’, ‘Agey ki sundor din kataitham’, ‘Ami tomar koler gari’, ‘Ailai na ailai na’, ‘Bosonto batasey’ and ‘Krishno aila radhar kunje’.
In recognition of his contributions to baul music, he was honoured with the highest national award of Bangladesh, the Ekushey Padak, in 2001.


Shah Abdul Karim died of respiratory problems in Sylhet on September 12, 2009.


To mark the birth anniversary with due solemnity, different socio-cultural organisations have arranged programs across the country.