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Shahbagh's Indian icon
By Sumon K. Chakrabarti
He may be the James Dean of Indian politics, and for protesters in Shahbagh Square, he is an icon. Kabir Suman, 64, the man who gave Bengalis a new genre of music with his ‘Jibonmukhi' (pro-life) songs, entered politics in protest against the Nandigram killings in West Bengal under the CPI(M)'s rule. He joined the Trinamool Congress and became an MP but then fell out with Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister.
Suman released the first song on the Shahbagh movement on his web site three days after the protests started. The song 'Gonodabi' (mass demand) soon became a runaway hit. "Songs have always been a key element of any protest in Bangladesh. This time it came from across the border. Suman's lyrics were so powerful, it gave people the right dose of adrenaline needed to keep the momentum,” said Dr Imran H. Sarker, a leader of the protest movement.
"My songs are dedicated to the brave people of Bangladesh and the youth who have risen up for justice against the mass rapists and perpetrators of the genocide in 1971," Suman told THE WEEK from his Kolkata home.
After Rajib Haider was hacked to death while returning from Shahbagh, Suman became the voice of the movement once again. He posted a song on his web site in memory of Rajib. "I am old enough to be his father. His sacrifice will go a long way in forming a truly free and secular Bangladesh. I stay far from Shahbagh and cannot avenge the killing of the blogger," said Suman.
But he sings for the protesters: "Tobuo amar gaane, khunir biruddhata" (Still, my song opposes the killers).
@PlanetSoldier @LaBong @kobiraaz @MBI Munshi @eastwatch @BDforever @animelive @Loki @idune @Banglar Lathial @Roybot
By Sumon K. Chakrabarti
He may be the James Dean of Indian politics, and for protesters in Shahbagh Square, he is an icon. Kabir Suman, 64, the man who gave Bengalis a new genre of music with his ‘Jibonmukhi' (pro-life) songs, entered politics in protest against the Nandigram killings in West Bengal under the CPI(M)'s rule. He joined the Trinamool Congress and became an MP but then fell out with Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister.
Suman released the first song on the Shahbagh movement on his web site three days after the protests started. The song 'Gonodabi' (mass demand) soon became a runaway hit. "Songs have always been a key element of any protest in Bangladesh. This time it came from across the border. Suman's lyrics were so powerful, it gave people the right dose of adrenaline needed to keep the momentum,” said Dr Imran H. Sarker, a leader of the protest movement.
"My songs are dedicated to the brave people of Bangladesh and the youth who have risen up for justice against the mass rapists and perpetrators of the genocide in 1971," Suman told THE WEEK from his Kolkata home.
After Rajib Haider was hacked to death while returning from Shahbagh, Suman became the voice of the movement once again. He posted a song on his web site in memory of Rajib. "I am old enough to be his father. His sacrifice will go a long way in forming a truly free and secular Bangladesh. I stay far from Shahbagh and cannot avenge the killing of the blogger," said Suman.
But he sings for the protesters: "Tobuo amar gaane, khunir biruddhata" (Still, my song opposes the killers).
@PlanetSoldier @LaBong @kobiraaz @MBI Munshi @eastwatch @BDforever @animelive @Loki @idune @Banglar Lathial @Roybot
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