Ustad Mihir Lala no more
Ustad Mihir Lala, 83, the veteran singer of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, is no more. He passed away at his residence in the port city at 7:30am today.
He is survived by his wife, Jayanti Lala, a celebrated artiste known for her performances in Nazrul Sangeet, as well as by their son and daughter. His death is deeply mourned by his family, friends, and numerous admirers.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Mihir Lala served as the principal of Arjya Sangeet Chattogram, a prestigious music academy, until his passing. According to his wife, Jayanti Lala, he was accorded state honours at the JM Sen Hall premises in the city, and his funeral took place at the Baluar Dighi Moha Shamshan in Chattogram.
Ustad Mihir Lala was born on January 4, 1941. Although his birthplace was Cox's Bazar, he spent his childhood in Boalkhali upazila of Chattogram. He was the third of eight children born to Advocate Chandra Vinod Lala and Kuldabala Lala. His elder brother, Rabindra Nath Lala, was notably the first student of Pandit Bhishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Mihir Lala's deep passion for music blossomed early in his childhood. He began his musical journey under the guidance of Ustad Abu Bakr Siddiqui and later learned from some of the most revered music maestros of the subcontinent. He also studied under Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Ultimately, it was under the tutelage of Pandit Barin Majumdar that he emerged as a prominent figure in the world of classical music.
During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, he played an active role as a vocal artist for Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. In recognition of his significant contributions to the study of music, he was honoured with the Shilpakala Padak in 2018.
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