Biography

Biography of Shah Abdul Karim:

Baul Shah Abdul Karim

Biography: Baul Shah Abdul Karim is one of the most famous folk music singer and in composer in Bangladesh. He specialized in Bengali Baul Music. Shah Abdul Karim was born in Uzandhol in Derai Upazilla. Sunamganj Zila, Sylet Division on 5 February,1916. He spend his whole life in this small village.shah abdul karim growing up with poverty and hardship from his childhood. Poverty made him a farmer. and he start work as a agricultural labor. Though he was poor, nothing can stop him to make good songs. He was so deeply absorbed in music that he was failed to engaged some jobs. In course of time He grew up an received his training in spiritual and baul music from his master 'Shah Ibrahim Mastan baksh' . At one point of his life he lost his voice. Then he came back to his spiritual master and begged for forgiven his sins. After couple of years later he got back his magical voice. When he got back his voice then he was above 90 years old. On that time his voice was the most nice and sweet among the elderly person. Beside his song he loves his wife very much. His wife name is Aftabunnessa. She died in 1987 and Shah Abdul Karim died in 12 September in 2009 7:58 am in Bangladesh time.


Musical Work: Shah Abdul Karim was written and compose  over 1600 songs. All those songs are collected in six books. The name of those books are : Aftab Sangeet, Gano Sangeet, Kalnir Dhew, Dhlemela, Bhatir Chithi, Kalnir Kooley, Bangla Academy also translate 10 of his songs into English language.
Many of the modern singer and composer (like Habib, Arifin-rumy, Kaya,Helal etc) in Bangladesh are singing his songs in modern way and becoming famous. He received Bangladesh most prestigious award 'Ekushey Padak', in 2001. And he also received some other award like Drouhee Kotha Shahitayk