Pandit Ramkanai Das recalled on first death anniversary
DL desk
Ekushey Padak recipient folk and classical music maestro Pandit Ramkanai Das was remembered through a commemorative programme at the Chhayanaut auditorium on Saturday. Pandit Ramkanai Smrity Parishad organised the event to mark the first death anniversary of Pandit Ramkanai Das. The event featured a screening of the documentary, discussion and songs, those were written and composed by Ramkanai. Presided over by cultural personality Kamal Lohani, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the programme as chief guest. In the programme, a documentary titled Surer Pathik, directed by Niranjan Dey, based on the life and works of Ramkanai Das was screened.
Later, folk researcher Sumon Kumar attended the discussion session along with signer Anup BhattaCharya and Kaberi Das.
In the musical part, Ramkanai Das daughter Kaberi Das presented a solo song Amar Shesh Bazarer Becha Kena, while noted artiste Abu Bakar Siddique rendered O Prano Bandhure, Tanshen Rahman rendered Shayam Kalia Sona Bondhu Re and Anandita Chowdhury Azaner Boyane Shuno.
Nemai Mandal recited a poem by Rabindranath Tagore.
Born in Sunamganj in 1935, Ramkanai Das is a popular classical singer and earned reputation for his experimentations with vintage Bangla songs. Besides singing, he wrote lyrics and composed songs. Since his regular featuring at a radio station in Sylhet on 1967, some of his notable audio albums include Bondher Banshi Baje (2004), Shurodhhonir Kinarai (2005), Raganjali (2006), Oshomoye Dhorlam Pari (2006), and Pagla Majhee (2010).
Ramkanai Das received Ekushey Padak in 2014 for his outstanding contribution to the folk song collection. He also received at least 200 other awards and honors, including honorary fellowship of Bangla Academy in 2012 and Rabindra Padak in 2000. His book on classical music Saral Sangeet Sikkha was published in 2007. Pandit Ramkanai Das passed away on September 5, 2014 at the age
of 79.
