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Karim’s songs often address spirituality but employ everyday issues and incidents that the common villagers can relate to. Greater Sylhet is famous not only for its saints but also for mystic bards like Radha Raman, Hason Raja, Shah Abdul Karim and many others. Many of his fellow villagers call him a ‘Pir’ (holy man)! Villagers even call his residence the ‘pir bari’! During the dry season, villagers cross miles of distance on foot from one village to another.Īt the bazaar, some 15-minute walking distance from Karim’s home, we discovered another honorific by which Karim is known. In the rainy season, boats are the lone source of communication in the locale. During the monsoon, the horizon goes under water and becomes a ‘haor’ (huge lake). The beautiful river is a landmark, dividing the landscape in two (the other part of the area is called ‘Bhati Dhal’). An elderly woman, perhaps a caretaker, said that the bard might be up for a while in the afternoon.Īfter waiting, in vain, the whole afternoon for the ‘Baul Samrat’ to wake up, we decided to meander around the village and try to experience the ambiance that inspired the bard to pen several of his remarkable songs.įirst we stopped at the bank of the river Kalni, flowing by Karim’s residence.

After repeated requests, he escorted us to Karim’s room. Which is why, initially Nur Jalal had reservations about meeting us. He does not like being disturbed or talked to. His only son Shah Nur Jalal spoke on Karim’s life and works as well as his current state.Īsked about Karim’s present physical condition, Nur Jalal said that most of the time the bard remains in bed. The bard, who turned 94 this year, was unable to join his birthdayĬelebrations owing to several age-related ailments.ĭuring a recent visit to his residence (on the occasion of the two-day “Shah Abdul Karim Loko Utshab ‘09″ arranged by the villagers and sponsored by banglalink), this correspondent found that for much of the time the nonagenarian remains asleep. Most remote villages, Ujan Dhal, under Derai upazilla of Sunamganj district. He wasīorn into a financially strained family in one of the Shah Abdul Karim is one of the most recognised and celebrated baul icons of his time.