Happy Birthday Baba!

Sohrab Hossain flanked by his daughters and family members.

Our living room would be filled with flowers. A cake would be cut amidst all our close ones. He himself would serve food to his guests, with a glow of happiness emanating from his face.
It's April 9 again, my father's birthday. But he is here no more with his smiling face -- to accept the birthday wishes from his loved ones. So my wishes today are silent. Happy Birthday Baba.

If someone asks me who my favorite person is, I would tell him/her it's my father. If they ask me who my best friend is, the answer would remain the same. If they ask me who my mentor is, I would again answer that it's my father. My father has always been my idol. Just as much as he was caring and gentle as a father, he was equally strict as a mentor. Whatever my achievements are, as an artiste so far, I owe it all to my father. Many of the country's artistes were mentored by him; my father treated them all like his own children.
My father was a complete man. Even on the final day of his life -- at the ripe age of 91 -- he did not rely on others. The man, who ignored strict family rules to take up music at an early age, worked tirelessly all his life to popularise Nazrul Sangeet among millions and create a legacy in the process.
How was Sohrab Hossain as a person? I've already said that he was my best friend. Baba was always friendly with all of his five children. He was always comfortable at home, but fate kept him out of the house for most of his life. He had to travel both inside the country and abroad, to share his music with the ever-enthusiastic audience. He rode a 50CC motorcycle to his students' homes, or to the various music schools. Still there was never a more family-loving person. Not only his own children, but he also took care of all his relatives with fatherly love.
He was a food enthusiast, and always loved to host adda and share meals with everyone. A family picnic was a regular annual event for him. Even in his old age, he would ignore the doctor's orders and go to restaurants secretly. But he never returned home empty handed. We would bring home whatever he had for everyone to enjoy. He would invite his close ones to home, whether there was an occasion or not.
My father also had a hobby of fishing. He would take his close friend Shudhin Kaka (Shudhin Das) and go angling. On some evenings he would return with a bucket full of fish, while at other times the bucket was empty. All those glorious days are behind us.
Every April 9, the whole family along with his students would prepare for celebrations. Our living room would be filled with flowers. A cake would be cut amidst all our close ones. He himself would serve food to his guests, with a glow of happiness emanating from his face.
It's April 9 again, my father's birthday. But he is here no more with his smiling face -- to accept the birthday wishes from his loved ones. So my wishes today are silent. Happy Birthday Baba.