Noted lyricist Gobinda Halder, who composed many immortal songs for the erstwhile Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, died at a hospital in Kolkata of West Bengal, India yesterday. He was 85.
Gobinda Halder breathed his last at 10:20am local time.
He had been undergoing treatment at Jitendra Nath Roy Hospital in Kolkata, for old-age ailments since November 13, Mofakkharul Iqbal, first secretary (Press) of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, said.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed deep shock at the death of the creator of many songs that inspired millions of Bangalis during Bangladesh’s Liberation War against the occupation Pakistan forces in 1971.
“The nation has lost a true friend in his death...the people of Bangladesh will always remember him for his invaluable contribution to the Liberation War,” President Abdul Hamid said in a statement.
In her condolence message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the people of Bangladesh had lost one of their real friends. Many songs written and composed by Gobinda Halder were inspirations to freedom fighters and common people during the Liberation War in 1971.
The president had visited the ailing composer at the hospital on December 22 last year during his visit to the Indian state. The prime minister had also called him over phone to inquire about his health condition.
She had also promised to bear his medical expenses.
On December 31, the Bangladesh deputy high commissioner in Kolkata handed over the amount to Gobinda Halder’s wife.
Gobinda Halder wrote a number of inspiring songs, including Mora Ekti Phulke Bachabo Bole Juddho Kori, Ek Sagor Rokter Binimoye Banglar Swadhinata Anlo Jara, Purbo Digonte Surjo Uthechhe Rokto Lal and Padma Meghna Jamuna Tomar Amar Thikana.
He penned nearly 3,500 semi-classical, folk, baul, kirtan, Shyama sangeet and modern Bangla songs before glaucoma claimed his sight.
Gabinda Halder was the person who proved that powerful lyrics can be turned into lethal weapons. It was his inspiring and emotion-filled songs that fuelled the nation with the spirit to fight for a free Bangladesh.
He joined the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra team with his two notebooks loaded with patriotic songs after the clandestine radio station had started its second phase of journey at the end of May 1971.
The noted composer then appeared like a saviour to the nation as his patriotic songs were the only way to endure the trauma and agony of the freedom fighters.
After independence, Gobinda penned his masterpiece tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War – Ek Sagor Rokter Binimoye Banglar Swadhinata Anlo Jara.
