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Consigned to the back pages of history

Baul MA Gafur’s 38th death anniversary observed in Pabna

Ahmed Humayun KabirTopu, Pabna
Memories of Baul MA Gafur, a renowned folk artist of the region, remain vibrant in the public memory. Gafur was not just a singer, but a devotee of music -- particularly folk and mystical songs. He was martyred during the Libera lion War.
As in previous years, the 38th death anniversary of Baul MA Gafur had a low key observance by his family on August 20.
Unfortunately, 38 years after the war, Gafur is sidelined in Pabna as his name finds no mention in the 'Durjoy Pabna,' a Liberation War memoriaLinihe district.
After independence, a postal ticket was launched in his honour but there is no other initiative to preserve his memories or introduce hisaccomplishmentstotheyoungofthedistrict.
Melody attracted Gafur at a very young age. He began to learn music from Ustad Ashwini Kumar Roy and later under Ustad Amir Hossain.
At the beginning of his musical life Gafur was inspired by the mystical songs of Lalon Shall and visited the Lalon Akhra (shrine) several times.
Gafur was an enlisted musician at Rajshahi Radio since its inception. He was the founder teacher of Pabna Institute of Fine Arts and various other cultural organisations. He was also the music director of the Bangla films "Lalon Fakir” and "Bahram Badshah.” He won awards several times for his contribution to music. In 1940, Gafur was conferred with the 'Gouranga Shahitya Ratna.'
Gafur worked with key musicians of the country several times. In the 1960s folk maestro Abbasuddin visited the Pabna Bonomali Institute. There Gafur gave a duet performance with the legendary singer. He was in contact with noted folk musicians such as Abdul Latif, Harolal Roy, Abdul Alim, Mostafa Zaman Abbasi and more.
A little known facet of MA Gafur is his identity as a social worker in his locality. He established the Kaizuri Primary School, graveyard and many other institutions on his estates. Though he was a physician by profession, his heart lay in music.
The Pakistani army arrested MA Gafur from his residence on August 20 in 1971 with the allegation of providing support to the freedom fighters. After a daylong torture they killed him in the afternoon of August 20.
The Shahid Baul MA Gafur Cultural Academy, a music institution, was established in Pabna town to preserve his memory.
Gafur's sons -- Abdul Malek Sarker and Kaiyum Sarkar -- are trying to keep alive the heritage of their father. However, they lament that their father is yet to receive his due recognition even after 38years of independence.
"My father's name is yet to be included in the 'Durjoy Pabna.' Also there is no initiative to preserve his memories. He was an asset to our culture,” Kaiyum Sarkar said.