From being the first singer to record a long-play of Nazrul songs to becoming the most prominent torchbearer of Nazrul’s legacy, iconic Feroza Begum’s career is full of remarkable events. We look back at the career of the singer, who took part in 380 solo musical events around the world.
Debut recording for All India Radio
Feroza Begum first sang in a juvenile programme titled “Shishumahal” for All India Radio while she was only in the sixth grade.
Meeting with Nazrul
She met with poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the age of 10. Her maternal uncle carried her to a meeting of honourable persons where she sang and after the event the uncle asked “Do you know, before whom you performed today?” She replied “How would I know. I met with the people for the first time.” The uncle said, “The man with the long cap and long hair who asked you to sit beside him was no other than Kazi Nazrul Islam.” Kazi Nazrul praised her singing and later she learned directly from him.
First recording with HMV
In 1942 her first record, a compilation of Islamic songs including the song “Morur Buke Jibondhara Ke Bohalo,” was released under the supervision of Chitto Roy with the famous gramophone company label HMV. The recordist in the studio was an English and although she was a little scared during the recording, after the release, the record sold like hot cake.
First Nazrul record
Recording companies of the time were not interested to produce a record of Nazrul songs. But her strong decision to continue her musical career only with Nazrul songs succeeded in bending the famous record label like MVH. In 1949, they expressed their eagerness to release a record of Nazrul Sangeet with her popular track “Gagone Gahone Sondhyatara” placed in.
Getting married to Kamal Dasgupta
Despite the denial and hindrances from her family, in 1956, Feroza married Kamal Dasgupta, a legendary singer, composer and lyricist and kept their vows till the death of Kamal in 1974.
First Nazrul song long-play
The first long-play record of Nazrul song was released with her magical voice. In 1961, two songs “Mor Ghum Ghore” and “Nirojone Sokhi” were rendered in the first ever long-play Nazrul song record.
Nazrul Institute and her legacy
Former president Ziaur Rahman once asked her about her requirements. Without thinking of her comfort she expressed her interest to establish an institute on Nazrul by the initiative of the government. She even suggested a place for the institute. But later, during Ershad’s tenure, the government rooted out the singer from the Kabobhabon and established the Nazrul Institute there. The government did not even invite her in the inaugural ceremony of the institute.
The 1979, the Independence Award winning singer felt that all the national media, including Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television, should introduce a programme on Nazrul songs as mandatory; though her wish has not yet seen the light of fruition.
