Final tribute to Nazrul Sangeet legend Firoza Begum

People from all walks of life have paid their last tribute to Nazrul Sangeet legend Firoza Begum.

The eminent singer, who had mesmerised Bengali audience with her voice for seven decades, was brought to the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka around 2pm from her Indira Road house.
Her two sons, members of popular rock band Miles, Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed along with family members were also present.

Relatives said that her eldest son Tahsin Ahmed has started from the US.

She will be taken to the Gulshan Azad Mosque for her funeral prayers and later will be laid to rest at the Banani graveyard, said son Hamin Ahmed.

The eminent singer passed away around 8pm Tuesday at the Apollo Hospital in Dhaka. She was 84.

Firoza Begum was admitted to the hospital on Monday morning with kidney complications.

The artiste was born in Gopalganj on July 28, 1930 to the zamindars of Ratail Ghonaparha. Her father was Khan Bahadur Mohammad Ismail, mother Begum Kaokabunnesa.

At that time it was almost unthinkable for a Bengali Muslim girl to be allowed to train in music. But even before she was ten, National Poet Nazrul Islam was impressed by her vocal talent. They met when Firoza was auditioning at the HMV, at the encouragement of All India Radio's Sunil Bose.

Nazrul was then the chief trainer of HMV. Even when she was in class VI, she set her place in the hearts of Bengali audience by singing two Nazrul songs in the All India Radio. Her first record was published in 1942 from HMV when she was 12.

She was the artist with whom Nazrul began his single long play records.

In the illustrious career that followed, Firoza sang Rabindra Sangeet, "Adhunik Bangla" songs, Gazhal, Kawali and Bhajan for her audience. She performed around 300 solo concerts.

Photo: asaduzzaman pramanik/ bdnews24.com

In 1949, Firoza and Talat Mahmud were the voices that inaugurated the Dhaka Shortwave Radio. She was also the first chairperson of Nazrul Institute.

In 1956, Firoza married Kamal Dasgupta, who had been a composer for at least a third of the national poet's songs.

Firoza has been the winner of the Independence Day Award, among numerous other honours.

Firoza left behind her three sons Tahsin, Hamin and Shafin.