Khorshed Alom
Veteran Baul singer-- Lalon devotee, Khorshed Alom is well known for Palagan in both Bangladesh and India. An enlisted artiste of BTV, Khorshed captivates audience with his rendition of Lalon songs.
As a young man, Alom was attracted to Lalon songs rendered by Motleb Ali Shah of Chuadanga district. Later, he learnt Lalon songs and discovered a spiritual teacher in Fakir Aziz Shah of Harinakundo upazila in Jhenidah. In 1988 he was enlisted in BTV. He has so far composed around 10,500 spiritual songs that include Shariat and Marofat, Nabuat Bilaiyet, Hashor Keamot, Jib prem, Kam prem, Radha-Krishna, Nabi Tatya and Meraj tatya.
Besides, he claims to have memorised around 5,000 songs by Lalon, Pagla Kanai, Siraj Shai and others. He has published 30 solo albums and 50 mixed albums with noted artistes such as Momotaj, Latif Sarkar, Aynal Bayati, Chand Mia, Matal Razzak, Rashid Sarkar Malek Sarkar and Maya Rani.
Alom has also rendered Palagan with noted Indian artistes like Purna Das Baul, Biren Das, Janif Sarkar, Joynal Sarkar, Al-Mohammad and Sadhan Shah.
Alom told The Daily Star that he has taken part in Palagan with reputed artistes of the country such as Jharu Shah, Azahar Biswas, Khodaboux Shai, Karim Shah Neamot Ali, Kanai Shah, Mohendranath Goswasmi and renowned folk researcher and singer Mostafa Zaman Abbasi. His earnings, he says, are higher during the dry season when he can travel more easily.
The slot for two programmes a month on BTV, gets him a meagre sum. He hopes to conduct more research on Lalon songs in the near future.
Among his many disciples are Jamirul Islam, Minara Begum Hiraj Tulla, Atiar Rahman, Rezaul Karim, Hashira Begum and Aroj Ali.
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