Salute you, maestro
The sky over the country that he loved so dearly wore a gloomy look since Friday evening. Light drizzle turned into heavy rain by last night -- as if tears of sorrow have broken loose.
Soaked in the drizzle, hundreds of mourners, representing a nation of millions, gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar around noon yesterday, only to have a glimpse of their beloved maestro composer, freedom fighter artiste, singer-songwriter and musical icon of Bangladesh -- Lucky Akhand.
This masterpiece composed by the maestro of melancholy has been playing in the hearts of a grief-stricken nation since he passed away on Friday evening at the age of 61: ...Hashi Gaane Bhora Ei To Jibon, Sajano Prithibi Tarpor Moron, Othocho Koto Sundar Sajano Prithibi... [This life is full of laughter and music; we leave this beautiful world after death, but what a beautiful place this world is...].
People who came to the Central Shaheed Minar not only paid tribute to the country's musical prodigy, but also celebrated the decorated career of an enlightened musician who with his unparalleled melodies uplifted the nation soon after the 1971 Liberation War that had left the country in ruins.
Abar Elo je Sondhya, Ei Neel Monihar, Agey Jodi Jantam, Amay Dekona, Swadhinota Tomake Niye Gaan To Likhechhi, Jekhane Simanto Tomar, Kobita Porar Prohor Esechhe and many more of his creations are now considered milestones in modern Bangla music.
“Throughout his entire life, my father wanted to make people happy by creating music. He was able to do that,” Lucky's daughter Mamminti Akhand said with satisfaction, but with tears in her eyes at the Shaheed Minar.
He even worked on music during his last days in the hospital bed, she added.
The Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artiste breathed his last at the capital's Mitford Hospital around 6:00pm on Friday.
The gifted musician was given a guard of honour after his body was taken to the Shaheed Minar premises around 11:15am. A one-minute silence was observed in his honour.
From there, his body was taken to Dhaka University central mosque where a second namaz-e-janaza was held after Zohr prayers. Earlier, his first namaz-e-janaza was held at Armanitola in the capital around 10:00am.
He was buried at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard yesterday.
Paying respect at Central Shaheed Minar, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said Lucky departed a bit sooner and that the nation could have gotten much more from him.
“But what the musical prodigy created is opulent,” said Noor, adding that his ministry will take initiatives to preserve the artiste's musical works.
Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said Lucky was a true patriot and his music was rich with tradition of the country.
Lucky's creations in the 1990s inspired a group of young musicians who earned fame subsequently, said lyricist Asif Iqbal, a close friend of Lucky. “Whatever he created turned into pure artwork.”
Golam Kuddus, president of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote, said the signs of patriotism in Lucky started to show as early as his adolescence days. Lucky deserves the highest state honour for his contribution, he said.
Awami League lawmaker Pankaj Debnath; Workers Party lawmaker Shirin Akhter; DU Vice-chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique; Sammilito Sangskritik Jote; Gazi Mazharul Anwar on behalf of BNP; singers Khurshid Alam, Naquib Khan, Labu Rahman, Fuad Naser Babu and Tipu (Warfaze); Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University; Radio Bangladesh; Swechchha Sebak League; Dhaka District Administration; and Bangladesh Gano Sangeet Shilpi Samannay Parishad paid tributes to Lucky Akhand yesterday among many individuals and organisations.
Lucky was the creator of some timeless tunes that epitomised melancholy, yearnings for love and depth of pain.
A legend in every sense of the word, Lucky had many an identity including singer and music director.
Diagnosed with grade-IV lung cancer in 2015, he was hospitalised on September 8, 2015 and later taken to Bangkok in Thailand for better treatment. He returned home in March last year and since then, he had been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Lucky was hugely popular in the 1980s, when he was at the peak of his career as a singer, composer, lyricist and music director. His first album was released in 1984.
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