Ajit Roy's songs of freedom celebrated

Shilpakala staff artists present a song composed by Ajit Roy Photo: STAR

A cultural programme featuring songs composed by renowned Tagore singer Ajit Roy during the Liberation War was held at the National Music and Dance Centre, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on December 14. Ajit Roy's compositions during the Liberation War were aired from Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra . The songs had a great impact on keeping the heads high of the freedom-aspiring nation during the war.
In collaboration with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), cultural organisations Abbhudoy Sangeet Angan and Protipalak Society for Culture and Science together arranged the musical soiree.
The programme began with a group rendition of patriotic song Dhano dhanye pushpey bhora, rendered by artistes of the organisations. One-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the martyred intellectuals and the late dotara artiste Abinash Chandra Sheel.
Dr. Baitunnahar of Abbhudoy and Shantanu Saha Roy of Protipalak gave speeches at the programme. Director General of BSA, Kamrul Hasan ndc also spoke at the programme.
Several songs composed by Ajit Roy during the Liberation War for Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, were presented next. A group rendition of patriotic song Swadhin swadhin dikey dikey was performed by artists of BSA.
Ajit Roy himself rendered several songs. He started with inspirational Tagore song O amar desher mati. Next he rendered Hey mahamanab, which was composed by Ajit Roy from Sukanta Bhattacharya's poem Bodhon. The song was aired in the programme Bajrakantha on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. His other songs included Banglar mukh ami dekhiyachhi, Durgam giri kantar moru .
Ashraful Alam, artiste of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and Ashfaqur Rahman, station-in-charge of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra recalled their days during the Liberation with Ajit Roy .
Renowned recitor and freedom fighter Kazi Arif recited at the programme.
Ajit Roy embarked into his music career as a Tagore singer. His mother introduced him to Tagore songs in his childhood. Later he also made major contributions in the field of Gano Sangeet genre, especially during the Liberation War.
In 1971 Ajit Roy joined Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. Later he joined Bangladesh Betar as a music producer.
His renditions in several feature films also attained popularity, especially in Khan Ataur Rahman's feature film Jibon Thekey Neya (1969).
The veteran singer received "Swadhinata Dibash Padak" in 2000.