At last, Azam Khan to get Independence Award

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Pop guru Azam Khan is receiving the Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award) posthumously this year in recognition of his glorious and meritorious contributions at the national level. He is being awarded this honour 14 years after his death.
Although Azam Khan’s full name is Mohammad Mahbubul Haque Khan, he is known as Azam Khan in the music industry. Many people also address him as ‘Guru’.
He was born on February 28, 1950, in the Quarter No 10, Azimpur Government Colony, Dhaka. His father is Aftabuddin Ahmed, and his mother’s name is Jobeda Khatun.
Azam Khan influenced a generation of rock and pop musicians in the post-independence era. Azam Khan gained immense popularity not only in Bangladesh but also in the entire subcontinent.
Azam Khan grew up in Azimpur, but had to move to Kamalapur in the capital at the age of six. As a result, he grew up and studied there. Singing was practiced in the family atmosphere. So, he also sang a few songs. But he had not yet thought about music, nor was he old enough to think about it.
However, folk music particularly attracted him. So, he raised his voice of protest during his school life.
The seeds of a war of independence were slowly sprouting in the country. The Pakistani rulers were poking the inhumane people of the country, he understood that the Pakistani rulers were exploiting the inhumane people of the country and depriving them in various ways.
From that source, a revolutionary spirit was born in Azam Khan’s mind. He heard the words of the ‘Kranti Shilpi Gosthi’, a group of popular music artistes. First, he ran to various areas of Dhaka, then around Dhaka, protesting and avenging his rights.
Azam Khan was a young man of twenty-one at the time. After going through various stages, the War of Liberation began. He did not want to miss the golden opportunity of independence. His father ordered him, “Go to war, but only return home after liberating the country.”
He has kept his father’s quota intact. He jumped into training. As he was in the frontline as a section commander, he also played a leading role in the Guerilla War. In between, he didn’t neglect to encourage his fellow soldiers and the people by singing songs from camp to camp.
After nine long months of bloody war, the country became independent. A sense of relief swept across the country.
Then the question came to his mind, what should he do now? He thought about it and saw that he had mastered the song. Let’s focus on that.
As a singer, Azam Khan was introduced to international band music at an early age.
He developed an interest in Western music after listening to songs by The Beatles, The Shadows, and The Rolling Stones. He tried to give a local touch to that atmosphere. He continued to sing songs with simple choruses and rhythms. Those pop songs were completely unknown on this floor at the time.
He pioneered, made it known, made it popular. That’s why everyone calls him the ‘pop guru’.
In 1972, Azam Khan formed a band called ‘Uchcharan’ with his friends. The same year, he got the opportunity to sing on BTV. He gained immense popularity by singing two songs – ‘Eto Sundor Duniyai Kichhui Robe Na Re’ and ‘Char Kalima Sakkhi Debe’ there. He created the timeless song ‘Rail Liener Oi Bostite’ about the famine of 1974, which is still on people’s lips.
Later, Azam Khan impressed the audience with many more songs. Some of the notable ones are: ‘Ami Jare Chaire’, ‘Ore Saleka Ore Maleka’, ‘Alal O Dulal’, ‘Anamika’, ‘Obhimani’,’ ‘Ashi Ashi Bole’, ‘High Court er Mazar e’, ‘Papri’, ‘Badha Dio Na’, ‘Je Meye Chokhe Dekhe Na’, etc.
Not only does he sing, Azam Khan has also acted and modelled. In 1986, he played the role of ‘Kala Baul’ in drama ‘Hiramon’, and in 2003, he played the title role in Shahin Sumon directed movie ‘Godfather’. Therefore, he has also been seen as a model in some of TV commercials.
Azam Khan was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2019 for his outstanding contribution to music.
However, seven years earlier, on June 5, 2011, he left for the land of no return.