Feroza Begum(1930-2014)
- Music Department
Nazrul Sangeet legend Feroza Begum was born as the third child of a respectable Muslim family in Faridpur, Bangladesh. Her father, Khan Bahadur Mohammad Ismail was an eminent lawyer. Her mother's name was Kowkabunnesa Begum.
Feroza Begum formally started learning music at the age of 13 from Chitta Roy in Kolkata. After one year, she started her training in music under the direct supervision of the legendary music director and composer of the Indian subcontinent, Kamal Dasgupta. At the age of 14 her first album was released from Columbia Records, Kolkata. At that time, Feroza Begum came across national poet of Bangladesh, also known as the rebel poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam at the studio of the music company His Masters Voice (HMV). She sang a few songs in the presence of Kazi Nazrul Islam, who immediately took notice of her and called Kamal Dasgupta to train her under his guidance. Kazi Nazrul Islam relied on Kamal Dasgupta for tuning many of his famous songs.
Feroza Begum also sang Hindi geet and modern Bengali songs. But she was slowly drawn to Nazrul Songs and later concentrated entirely on Nazrul Songs. Her relentless efforts enabled her to transform Nazrul Geeti to Nazrul Sangeet during her lifetime. Feroza Begum was known as "the rebel disciple of the rebel poet". Her famous songs "Shawono Rate Jodi" was a super hit and for that she received the "Golden Disk" award. She also popularized modern Bengali songs tuned by Kamal Dasgupta- e.g. "Emoni Borosha Chilo Shedin" "Ei Kigo Shesh Daan" "Potho Hara Pakhi" amongst many others.
Feroza Begum performed in many solo stage performances in West Bengal-over 300 programs. She also travelled to USA, Europe and Australia to perform on the stage and enthralled the audience with her melodious rendering of famous songs.
Feroza Begum remained in Kolkata after independence in 1947 but later moved to Bangladesh with her family and continued her singing career. She married Kamal Dasgupta, who converted to Islam before the marriage and took the name Kamal Uddin Ahmed, in 1956. They were married till Kamal Dasgupta passed away in 1974. They had three sons together, Tahsin Ahmed who is a musician and resides in USA, Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed. Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed are professional musicians. They are members of popular Bangladeshi rock band Miles. Shafin Ahmed is also a talented Nazrul sangeet singer.
Feroza Begum has been able to successively establish Nazrul Sangeet and win the hearts of millions of Bengali speaking people around the world. Nazrul song became synonym with Feroza Begum. Her quest for excellence in performing Nazrul Sangeet brought her many awards. The Government of Bangladesh honouredFeroza Begum with 'Independence Award' in 1979. The Government of West Bengal, India honoured Feroza Begum with 'Banga Samman Award' in 2012 and conferred upon her the title of 'Mahaguru' in 2013 for her lifelong contribution to music. In 2015 she was given the highest award in West Bengal 'Banga Bibhushan' in music. Besides, Feroza Begum received numerous awards throughout her 78 years of music career. A few notable ones amongst them are: 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Sammanona', 'Satyajit Ray Award' (1992), Doctor of Literature (D. Litt) from the University of Burdwan, "Golden Disk" award from the famous Japanese record company CBS.
To a true artist awards and accolades are not as important as to reign over people's hearts. Feroza Begum acquired a permanent place in the hearts of millions of her fans. Feroza Begum breathed her last on 9th September 2014 leaving her fans in tears around the world. Her songs are archived in 'Feroza Begum YouTube Channel'. Feroza Begum Website is established cataloging her life's work.
Every year University of Dhaka is awarding "Feroza Begum Gold Medal", honouring a nationally deserving vocal artist.
Feroza Begum is an epitome of excellence. She is an institution that will live forever in the heart and minds of our generation and for generations to come as a gold standard of what a true artist could be.
Feroza Begum formally started learning music at the age of 13 from Chitta Roy in Kolkata. After one year, she started her training in music under the direct supervision of the legendary music director and composer of the Indian subcontinent, Kamal Dasgupta. At the age of 14 her first album was released from Columbia Records, Kolkata. At that time, Feroza Begum came across national poet of Bangladesh, also known as the rebel poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam at the studio of the music company His Masters Voice (HMV). She sang a few songs in the presence of Kazi Nazrul Islam, who immediately took notice of her and called Kamal Dasgupta to train her under his guidance. Kazi Nazrul Islam relied on Kamal Dasgupta for tuning many of his famous songs.
Feroza Begum also sang Hindi geet and modern Bengali songs. But she was slowly drawn to Nazrul Songs and later concentrated entirely on Nazrul Songs. Her relentless efforts enabled her to transform Nazrul Geeti to Nazrul Sangeet during her lifetime. Feroza Begum was known as "the rebel disciple of the rebel poet". Her famous songs "Shawono Rate Jodi" was a super hit and for that she received the "Golden Disk" award. She also popularized modern Bengali songs tuned by Kamal Dasgupta- e.g. "Emoni Borosha Chilo Shedin" "Ei Kigo Shesh Daan" "Potho Hara Pakhi" amongst many others.
Feroza Begum performed in many solo stage performances in West Bengal-over 300 programs. She also travelled to USA, Europe and Australia to perform on the stage and enthralled the audience with her melodious rendering of famous songs.
Feroza Begum remained in Kolkata after independence in 1947 but later moved to Bangladesh with her family and continued her singing career. She married Kamal Dasgupta, who converted to Islam before the marriage and took the name Kamal Uddin Ahmed, in 1956. They were married till Kamal Dasgupta passed away in 1974. They had three sons together, Tahsin Ahmed who is a musician and resides in USA, Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed. Hamin Ahmed and Shafin Ahmed are professional musicians. They are members of popular Bangladeshi rock band Miles. Shafin Ahmed is also a talented Nazrul sangeet singer.
Feroza Begum has been able to successively establish Nazrul Sangeet and win the hearts of millions of Bengali speaking people around the world. Nazrul song became synonym with Feroza Begum. Her quest for excellence in performing Nazrul Sangeet brought her many awards. The Government of Bangladesh honouredFeroza Begum with 'Independence Award' in 1979. The Government of West Bengal, India honoured Feroza Begum with 'Banga Samman Award' in 2012 and conferred upon her the title of 'Mahaguru' in 2013 for her lifelong contribution to music. In 2015 she was given the highest award in West Bengal 'Banga Bibhushan' in music. Besides, Feroza Begum received numerous awards throughout her 78 years of music career. A few notable ones amongst them are: 'Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Sammanona', 'Satyajit Ray Award' (1992), Doctor of Literature (D. Litt) from the University of Burdwan, "Golden Disk" award from the famous Japanese record company CBS.
To a true artist awards and accolades are not as important as to reign over people's hearts. Feroza Begum acquired a permanent place in the hearts of millions of her fans. Feroza Begum breathed her last on 9th September 2014 leaving her fans in tears around the world. Her songs are archived in 'Feroza Begum YouTube Channel'. Feroza Begum Website is established cataloging her life's work.
Every year University of Dhaka is awarding "Feroza Begum Gold Medal", honouring a nationally deserving vocal artist.
Feroza Begum is an epitome of excellence. She is an institution that will live forever in the heart and minds of our generation and for generations to come as a gold standard of what a true artist could be.
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