A Timeless Voice

Kalim Sharafi

Kalim Sharafi (8 May 1924 – 2 Nov 2010) was one of the most renowned singers of Rabindra Sangeet in the subcontinent. Besides his luminous performance as a singer, he was also a prominent cultural activist and a thought leader. He was one of the few personalities who popularised Rabindra Sangeet in this part of Bengal. Through his songs and writings he wanted to make people conscious of their cultural identity. We remember this great cultural personality on his 4th death anniversary. 

Kalim Sharafi was born in the Birbhum district of West Bengal on May 8  1924
He was from a conservative religious family that migrated to West Bengal from Sonargaon, Bangladesh (the then East Bengal)
From his early childhood he was passionate about music
Though raised in a conservative family, he was inspired by his father to nourish his musical talent

At an early age Sharafi got involved in politics and participated in the Hallwell Movement
He actively participated in Gandhi's Quit India movement in 1942 when he was only 18 years old
He was arrested by the police from his village and spent more than a year in prison with other activists
Then he got involved with the theatre movement and joined Indian Popular Theatre Association

Sharafi migrated to Dhaka in 1950 and joined Bangladesh Betar
The then Pakistan government blacklisted him for his involvement with communism and banned him from the Radio
Kalim Sharafi was one of the founding programme directors of Bangladesh Television and served there from 1964 to 1967
He was also the founder of the music school Sangeet Bhaban in 1983

Sharafi was the president of the "Bangladesh Rabindra Sangeet Shilpi Sangstha", a platform of Rabindra Sangeet artistes
Sharafi was awarded Ekushey Padak in 1985 and Shadhinota Padak in 1999
He also received the First Rabindra Award 2010 for his contribution in promoting and preserving Rabindra Sangeet
This great artiste died at his residence on November 2, 2010 at the age of 86