Ekushey Padak-winning classical music maestro Amaresh Roy Chowdhury died at his residence in Rajshahi city on Tuesday. He was 98.
Amaresh Roy Chowdhury is survived by his two sons, Abhijeet and Amit, daughter-in-laws, Sharmila and Kakoli, and grandchildren, Atanu, Auntora and Aditi. His wife, Sonali, passed away in 2022.
His son, Amit Roy Chowdhury, said that the veteran singer had been suffering from various age-related complications for the past two weeks. His condition further deteriorated on Sunday.
His cremation was carried out at the city鈥檚 Panchabati Crematorium in the afternoon.
Born on September 18, 1928, in a prominent family in Chauddharshi village of Faridpur district, Amaresh Roy Chowdhury began his classical music training in his childhood under Sudhir Lal Chakraborty, a classical vocalist and composer from Faridpur who had renown in the Subcontinent.
Amaresh Roy Chowdhury drew his inspiration from his mother Rajlakshmi Roy Chowdhury.
Later on Amaresh Roy trained under Sirajganj鈥檚 classical music guru Harihar Shukla and maestro Tarapada Chakraborty of Kotali Para.
He also trained in modern songs, Atulprasad compositions, raga-based songs, Nazrul Sangeet, and Shyama Sangeet from eminent singer and composer Nikhil Chandra Sen of Netrokona.
He honed his classical music skills under Manas Chakraborty, the celebrated singer and son of Tarapada Chakraborty.
After matriculating from Baishrashi Shibsundari Academy in 1945, Amaresh pursued higher studies while dedicating himself to music.
Since 1961, he had been living at 鈥楳ohini Niketan鈥� at Ranibazar in the city where he breathed his last.
He taught Indian classical music at his school called Shangitasram. The school closed in 2020 with his health deteriorating.
He also performed regularly at Bangladesh Betar.
For his outstanding contribution to classical music, he received Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award in 2014 and the Ekushey Padak in 2016.
