My lighthouse: Tribute to musicologist Azad Rahaman
Azad Rahaman, my dearest Abbu, left for his eternal abode on May 16, 2020. He was laid to rest on top of his mother's grave at the Azimpur Graveyard in Dhaka.
He passed away on the 22nd day of Ramadan last year, when the world was fighting against the initial waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. He had experienced postoperative complications following a surgery. His children were away in Australia.
As I was finishing my remaining iftar just after the maghrib prayers, I suddenly felt a thud, as if something pushed me. I asked my daughter if she felt anything. She was surprised watching me shake, as there was nothing she could notice.
After some time, I called Ammu in Dhaka, and my Fupu (aunt) picked up the phone, crying. I could not stand still hearing the news. Abbu had passed away due to a massive heart attack. My whole world was shattered.
My Abbu was a man of wisdom who had a genuine love for music. He brought us into this world and gave us unconditional love and respect. We never saw him having a lazy moment.
He worked until his ailing days, composed his last song, a Bangla Kheyal in raag Darbari Kanada, just a week before his demise. The song was, 'Shure shure taale taale gai tobo joyogan (I praise the Almighty through my music and songs). My father believed that children are endowments from the Almighty.
I often heard him saying "Children are our Amanot (God's possessions to care for), not slaves". Courteous and deferential, children can only be raised with the basics of ethics, and an honourable upbringing. My father was devoted to writing meaningful songs for children and adults with the thought that the songs would help them understand the values of life.
The words of the songs were meant to influence people to keep away from all forms of violence and discrimination that can adversely affect them.
My father migrated from West Bengal to East Pakistan amidst the Hindu-Muslim riots in 1964. By then, he had completed his Honours from Rabindra Bharati University. He had also directed music for a movie named 'Miss Priyangbada' in Calcutta.
When the riot started, the dean of Rabindra Bharati University, Hiranmoy Banerjee, asked him to flee in a prison van. My father was adamant about not taking this option. He despised the idea of leaving his birthplace in a prison van when he had topped the whole class and earned first class first position in his Honours examination. The dean then told him, "By escaping, you will get a new life and life is a priceless gift". My father welcomed these persuasive words and left his birthplace (Burdhawan, India) for a new homeland, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
This experience led Abbu to compose a beautiful song for children, Ei jibon omulyo dhon, jibonke shundor korte hobe, protiti muhurto ekanto nishthay, shikkhay, shadhonay, kormer shototay, nijeke nijei gorte hobe. I, along with my two sisters, learnt through this song that life is a priceless gift to us from the Almighty, and we can make it wonderful and joyous by being faithful, honest, and disciplined.
After Bangladesh's independence, Esho Gaan Shikhi, a popular musical programme for children, started its journey on Bangladesh Television. My father was offered to conduct the show alongside famous singer Ferdousi Rahman. Abbu whole-heartedly began composing songs for children. In a tribute to my father, Ferdousi Fupu said, "At that time, not many music directors wanted to compose songs for children. Only a couple of them would come forward when we asked for children's songs. Azad Rahaman was the foremost of them all."
The title song for Esho Gaan Shikhi, 'Shat shorer raja, rel gaarite chore, gaaner deshe jabo, ma ke shathe kore' was written and composed by Abbu. Conceptually, in the song, Saa, the first musical note, starts his journey on a Rail Car (Re) to the land of music (gaaner desh-Gaa) with his mother (Maa). On the way, they meet Pa, Dha, Nee - who joyfully accompany them to the Land of Music (Pa dha nee elo heshe heshe, tara o jabe je she deshe).
Together, they cross mountains and rivers, surmounting odds and combating evil, finally reaching the Land of Music. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Nee - the seven notes stand one after another in sequence, in a structured and disciplined way. The Land of Music is full of joy and happiness where there is only love and hope. Perhaps, this Land of Music was his new home, Bangladesh.
Abbu later relocated my Dadu (his mother) and four younger siblings from India to his new homeland after my Dada (his father) passed away. He always wished to perform pure classical forms of Kheyal, Dhrupod, Dhamar, and establish them in Bangla. He wrote Bangla Bandishes (song lyrics) based on Hindustani Ragaas, which he referred to as Bangla Kheyal.
The first kheyal we learnt at a very young age was in Raag Bhairo, 'Udilo konoko bhanu purobo gogone, bhoirobo gao shobe, probhato logone' (the sun has risen in the east, let's sing Raga Bhairo). Later, we learnt many other kheyals like 'Shubho chinta dao mone, dhono shompodo mohe ondho bhubone' ('O Lord, provide us with positive thoughts in the dark world of greed') in Raag Yaman; 'Gyano jyoti jalao, drishyoman hok manobota' ('Illuminate with the light of knowledge, to make humanity visible') in Raag Bhim Palasri; 'Khushi bhag kore nao shokoler shathe, Ache joto bedona, hotasha kannna, Mishe jaak milono anondo srote (Share happiness with everyone, let the sorrow and pain wash away in the joyful wave of unity) in Raag Bahar. We also learnt a Dhrupod in Raag Sri, 'Ninda Proshongshate Lokkhochutyo je Naa hoy, Shofolota ashe tar, hobe taari Joy' (Those who do not deviate from their goals despite being praised or blamed, are the people who are successful and recognised). My father's lyrics were all about inner peace and contentment.
Bangla Academy published two volumes of his written Kheyals and semi-classical Bandishes (Bangla Kheyal Prothom Khondo, Bangla Kheyal Ditiyo Khondo), and two volumes of Dhrupod and Dhamar are awaiting publication. Out of the many songs composed by Abbu, Alor Desh, made in the early 1980s, moves me the most. It was composed after his visit to Russia to attend the World Music Directors' Conference.
In Moscow, he watched a children's ballet themed on a forest, where small saplings battled for sunlight as the bigger trees had captured the light.
Together, all the small trees unite to stand for their rights. This play inspired Abbu to write a song for children. This song portrays equal rights for all with the following words:
Ondhokare thakbona, bondho ghore thakbona, jabo Alor Deshe.
Shurjer shob alo kere niye, shara duniyay she alo debo choriye.
Kono badha manbona, Kono kotha shunbona
Mitther ashshahe korbona shondhi
Choto, Boro, Raja, Proja shokoler odhikar Prithibir shompod eka karo noy, Alo keno karo ghore hobe bondi?
Bondi shalar tala bhenge diye, Shara duniyay she alo debo choriye.
To me, Abbu was a dreamer, or rather, a practical visionary. He dreamt of a safe world for children, believers, human beings of all colours and creeds.
He dedicated his life to Bangla music's growth and expansion, from writing children's songs to enriching the radio and television song archives, popularising film songs and above all, authoring books on classical song lyrics (Bandishes) in Bangla.
In his lifetime, he endeavoured to give music an institutional form. This was reflected time and again in his work with radio, television, films and the administrative positions he held in different government and non-governmental bodies. He was a lifelong learner, and a giver who wanted to impart his knowledge to enlighten the people around him.
He always thought of the teaching of music and words of wisdom as the foundation of moral behaviour for children.
When my adopted country, Australia, took strict measures to shut down international travel in March last year, I told Abbu on the phone that we will visit him as soon as the restrictions were lifted. But he had said, "No! You are my offsprings; you should act responsibly! Do not travel during this pandemic. Stay where you are!" Abbu, thank you for being our lighthouse.
Let us pay our respect to musicologist Azad Rahaman, a truly admirable gentleman, for his valuable contribution to Bangla music and the music industry of Bangladesh.
The author is the second daughter of Azad Rahaman. She currently resides in Queensland, Australia. Write to her at [email protected].
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