Boyati, Abdur Rahman
Boyati, Abdur Rahman (1939-2013) was born on 1 January 1939 at Dayaganj in old Dhaka. He started practicing mystic songs at an early stage by his mother’s inspiration. His father’s name is Tota Miah and mother’s name is Mariyam Begum. Rahman Boyati was married to Khatun Zara.
He was introduced to the mystic dehatatya genre (which searches the existence of the Lord in the body of human beings) of his spiritual Guru Alaudding Boyati. Besides being a folk singer, he was also a lyricist, music composer, director and poet. Though he received fame mainly in boyati (folk) songs, he also excelled in all other forms of folk genre such as Jari, Palli, Marfoti, Murshidi, Dehatatya, Shari, and even Qawali.
Abdur Rahman Boyati made an immense contribution in popularizing folk songs to the general audience. Rahman’s song Mon Amar Deho Ghori Sondan Kori became immensely popular amongst the Bengali-speaking people all over the world. He will be remembered for his songs Ai Prithibi Jeman Ase-thik Temani Rabe, Din gele Ar Din Pabina, Ekdin Chithi Diye Haibe Dakati, De De Pal Tule De, Pirite Kairase Kalankini, Maranero Katha Keno Sharan Kara Na, Ma Go Ma Ji Go Ji’ etc. During his long musical career, Abdur Rahman Boyati released around 500 solo albums and 200 mixed albums.
In 1982, Abdur Rahman Boyati formed his own troupe, customarily known as Abdur Rahman’s group, which travelled all comers of Bangladesh and also performed in around 40 countries across the world including USA, UK, former Soviet Union, China, Japan, Austria, Canada, Australia and India. He also led the delegation of Bangladesh government to perform in many international cultural programs. Perhaps, he was the only Bangladeshi singer who got the rare invitation to perform in the White House, USA upon invitation by the former American President George W Bush Senior in 1990.
He used to perform in Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and all private TV channels. In 1995, Abdur Rahman Boyati worked with a popular band Feedback that experimented on Boyati’s signature song Man Amar Dehaghari. Abdur Rahman Boyati also lent voice in hundreds of playbacks in Dhallywood films and notably among them are Gunahghar dircted by Mausud Parvez, Shakhanil Karagar by Mustafizur Rahman. He also performed as an actor in a Bangladeshi film Osati directed by Hafizuddin in 1989.
Boyati’s voice and lyrics motivated and inspired Freedom Fighters during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. In 1973, he got the opportunity to discuss the significance of folk songs with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu had sent him abroad for musical performance. Abdur Rahman received the ‘Ekushey Padak’ (the second highest national civilian award in Bangladesh) in the year 2015 for his outstanding contribution to Bengali music. He also received the President’s Award, the Nazrul Academy Sammanana and the Shodesh and Shangskritik Gold Medal.
On 19 August 2013 the legendary artist of folk music Abdur Rahman Boyati breathed his last in Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka at the age of 74. He left behind 3 sons, 3 daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death. [Md. Abul Hossen]
