Shraddha of Ajit Roy held

16 September 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Romacho Roy, son of Ajit Roy, the veteran singer and dedicated artiste of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, performs Shraddha for his father in the city's Dhakeswari National Temple yesterday.Photo: STAR

Shraddha of Ajit Roy, a dedicated artiste of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, was held in the city's Dhakeswari National Temple yesterday. Romacho Roy, son of the veteran singer, performed the Shraddha, a ritual to pay homage to one's ancestors, especially to one's dead parents. Ajit's wife Bula Roy and other family members were also present. Priest Bijoy Krishna Goshawmi said the Shraddha was held seeking salvation of the departed soul and later food was served to relatives and well-wishers of the deceased. Many leaders and activists of different socio-cultural and political organisations including Communist Party of Bangladesh President Manzurul Ahsan Khan, M Hamid, Golam Kuddus, singer Rathindra Nath Roy, Subir Nandi, Papia Sarowar and Mita Haque attended the ritual. Ajit Roy, also a prominent Tagore singer, passed away at Birdem Hospital on September 4. He made major contribution in the Gano Sangeet genre, especially during the Liberation War. His songs ignited the patriotic sentiments of the common people as well as the soldiers on the battlefield. After independence, he joined Bangladesh Betar (radio) as a music producer. Roy was the composer of many timeless and patriotic songs including “Ekti Bangladesh tumi jagroto janotar” and “Apomaney tumi shedin”. He received several awards including Swadhinata Padak (2000), Gunijan Padak, Sraddhanjalipatro, Shabdoshainik Padak, Sequence Award (1988) and Begum Rokeya Padak.