Esho Gaan Shikhi and Ferdausi, the inseparable duo

Who wouldn't recall humming along with "Jadoor pencil, amar thakto jodi ekta jadoor pencil" or "Timi macher naam to jano, jano ki taar porichoy" when it played on BTV? Over the course of a staggering five decades, the iconic show "Esho Gaan Shikhi" has become synonymous to the melodious voice of the elegant lady hosting the show- the legendary Ferdausi Rahman.

 "Esho Gaan Shikhi" celebrates its 51st anniversary today, and The Daily Star recently spoke to the noted artiste, without whom the show wouldn't be born.

She first named it "Sangeet Shikhar Ashor", which first aired on December 27, 1966, the same year that BTV started, and the renowned Abida Sultana was one of her first students. The show was later renamed "Esho Gaan Shikhi" to give it a child-like rhythm with a broader appeal that Rahman longed for.

The puppet concept was brought into a reality in our country by her, after her trips to London and Australia in 1966 and '75. Rahman's good friend, the British Silvia Mortaza residing in Dhaka made Mithu and Monti for the show and even volunteered to lend her voice. Later on, her youngest son Rubaiyat and Shekhor also gave voice to Mithu and Monti. Currently, it is through the voices of Nirmol and Deepak, speaking as the voices of Mithu and Monti.

Her initiatives to make "Esho Gaan Shikhi" the programme that it is now, reflects her devotion towards children and music. "'Esho Gaan Shikhi' is of the same age as BTV", she said, her eyes full of pride and happiness. "I had my first performance when I was only six years old", she recalled, adding "I remember all the difficulties I had to face as a child artiste, even after having a father like mine. That's why I feel so dearly about 'Esho Gaan Shikhi' and the children who join the programme. They are like my very own".  

Being the only daughter of the great Abbasuddin Ahmed, she was born with music flowing through her veins. Her mother too was a music lover, but her reverence towards her spouse was far greater, and so she refrained from pursuing music as a career. Rahman was born on June 28, 1941, has two elder brothers: former Chief Justice Mustafa Kamal and singer Mustafa Zaman Abbasi. She is married to Rezaur Rahman, an engineer and industrialist and has two sons Rubaiyat and Razin Rahman, and five grandchildren whom she adores.

Ferdausi Rahman's galore of awards ranges from the Lahore Cine Journalist Awards 1963 to Lifetime Achievement Award 2008 and The Daily Star-Standard Chartered Celebrating Life's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Currently, she is busy as the President of Nazrul Sangeet Shilpi Parishad and her autobiography that she wants to finish very soon. She has also been managing the Abbasuddin Sangeet Academy for the last 25 years at Banani, where she welcomes students of all ages. Talking to The Daily Star, she emphasized that her academy is a shade different as she is not only concentrating on music but also on performance etiquettes which many artistes today overlook.