
Today is the 51st anniversary of death of legendary singer Abdul Alim.
Born at Talibpur village in Murshidabad, West Bengal of British India on July 27, 1931, Abdul Alim began taking music lessons from a local instructor named Syed Golam Ali, and earned a reputation as a singer in his locality during his teenage years.
Later, he went to Kolkata and became acquainted with poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and folk singer Abbasuddin Ahmed.
In Kolkata, Abdul Alim learned folk music as well as classical music under Bedaruddin Ahmad, Ustad Mohammad Hossain Khasru, Momtaz Ali Khan, Abdul Latif, Kanailal Shil, Abdul Halim Chowdhury and others.
After 1948, Abdul Alim settled in Dhaka. Later, he was enlisted as a singer with radio and TV.
The singer became a household name singing songs, including ‘Allah Megh De Pani De’, ‘O Padma Nadire’, ‘Ar Kotokal Bhasbo Ami’, ‘Bahudinner Pirit’, ‘Ei Je Duniya’, ‘Haludia Pakhi’, ‘Sab Sakhire Par Karite’, ‘Parer Jayga Parer Jami’ and ‘Kadis Na Abodh’.
He recorded over 300 gramophone records, and sang playbacks in over 100 films.
The singer received several awards, including the Ekushey Padak in 1977 and Independence Award in 1997.
Abdul Alim passed away on September 5, 1974 in Dhaka.