Demise of a Lalon song-bird

“My body is nothing but a dotara and Lalon songs are like religion to me,” Rob Fakir, a famous Baul singer and Lalon disciple, would always state when asked about himself. Always spotted with a dotara hanging around his neck, he was a simple human being who lived like a sage throughout his life. Fakir passed away on August 6, aged 61. This pre-eminent dotara player (a two or four or some times five stringed musical instrument resembling a mandolin) who used to make his own instruments had been ill for quite some time, finally breathing his last at the Kustia Central Hospital last Saturday, aged 61. Rob Fakir was fully devoted to Lalon’s realm. From early childhood, he used to visit the “aakhra,”  a gathering of Lalon devotees who increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation. A disciple of Boro Rob Fakir, a revered Baul of Kushtia, Rob Fakir was also known as Gopal Shadhu. During the early 1970s, along with his father Siraj Joarder he used to go to the “aakhra” located at Cheuria, Kushtia and that was the beginning of his spiritual journey. He started liking the communion of the Lalon devotees and ended up garnering strong devotion and adoration towards Lalon. He used to harmonise the songs of Abbas Uddin, the great Bengali folk song composer and singer using just his dotara after listening to the songs on the radio. At first, he used to buy the instruments but wasn’t satisfied with the results. After some time, he began to build his own musical instruments.

Rob Fakir has inspired many contemporary folk singers

Throughout his career, Rob Fakir performed at many international folk festivals like Womad, UK (the biggest folk festival in the world), Songlines Encounter, UK with contemporary folk band Shikor, Dhaka International Folk Festival, and International Sufi Festival in Dhaka. The band Bangla played a key role in popularising Rob Fakir among the urban youth. The band’s second album Prottutpanyomotitwa featured songs – “Helaye Helaye Din Boye Jaye” and “Shobey Ki Hobey Bhobey” – rendered by Rob Fakir. Music label Ektaar produced Rob Fakir’s lone solo album Shobder Ghar. The album features ten lesser known songs including “Jagat Muktitey Bholalen Shai,” “Jey Pothey Shai Choley Pherey,” “Dekhlam E Shongshar,” and “Shobder Gharey Nishobdo Kore.” Rob Fakir has inspired many contemporary folk singers. He personally helped singer Anusheh Anadil and Shahnaz Belly to learn a few important traits of the Lalon singing style. His untimely death left fellow singers and followers saddened and shocked. Bangladeshi-born British jazz pianist and composer Kishon Khan posted on social media: “Deeply saddened to hear the passing of my friend Rob Fakir. He really was a beautiful human being, who gave out a special energy. He created a sense of awe in London, and floated around Womad in a way  a Baul can, always smiling. RIP Rob bhai.” Guitarist and musician Seth Panduranga Blumberg posted, “If there is a beginning then there will be an ending...But with soul there is no beginning...so no end. We are all comprised of soul. A collective energy of consciousness taking form, leaving form but never born and never ending. I am thankful for the form known as Rob Fakir. joy guru.” Rob Fakir is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.