Today is the 105th birth anniversary of Baul Samrat Shah Abdul Karim. Shah Abdul Karim was born on February 15 in 1916 at Derai upazila in Sunamganj district.

His childhood was mired with extreme poverty and sadness. Therefore, he never got any institutional education from any school or college. Furthermore, there were no educational institution in his village.

As he was growing up, he received training on spiritual and Baul music from Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh.
Abdul Karim was a very popular musician in the remote areas. Ektara, a traditional single string musical instrument, had always been his constant companion.

Baul legend Shah Abdul Karim won the hearts of millions of Bangla music lovers with masterpieces like ‘Bonde Maya Lagaise’, ‘Kano Piritee Barailarey Bondhu’, ‘Gari Cholena Cholena’, ‘Ami Koolhara Kolonkini’, ‘Agey Ki Shundor Din Kataitam’, and many more.

He was awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2001 for his outstanding musical achievements.

He also received the Drouhee Kotha-Shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award in 2000.

Shah Abdul Karim wrote and composed over 1,500 songs.

These songs are organised in six books ‘Aftab Sangeet’, ‘Gano Sangeet’, ‘Kalnir Dheu’, ‘Dholmela’, ‘Bhatir Chithi’ and ‘Kalnir Kooley’.
Bangla Academy has translated ten of his songs into English.

The legendary Baul singer died of respiratory problems in Sylhet on September 12 in 2009.