‘Baul Samrat’ Shah Abdul Karim died of old age complications at Nurjahan General Hospitalof  Sylhet at 7:58am today (12 September, 2009). He was 93. He was suffering from respiratory problem along with other complications.

The coffin of the 'Baul Samrat' was brought to the Sylhet Shaheed Minar at 1:00pm for the people from all walks of life to pay their tributes to the poet.

The poet was brought to the hospital from his village home in Ujandhol under Derai upazila of Sunamganj on September 3.

Before the death, the legendary folk artist was kept on artificial life-support system at the Intensive Care Unit after his condition deteriorated yesterday morning, his physician at the Nurjahan GeneralHospital said.

Shah Abdul Karim was born in 1916 in ‘Bhati anchal’ (low land area) called Ujandhol in Sunamganj district. The place remains submerged almost eight months of a year. Karim never had a chance to attend any school.

Growing up with poverty and hardship, he started expressing his thoughts and emotions musically from very early age. Ektara, a traditional single string instrument has been his constant companion. His songs had spell-binding effects on the people in and around his village, not to mention his melodic, soothing and pleasingly rustic voice. He was so indulged in music that unlike other typical Bangladeshis he failed to engage in some 'jobs' and continued entertaining people with his music (by and large, music is yet to be recognized as a full grown profession in Bangladesh).

However, poverty forced him to get into agricultural labour. But nothing could stop him from making good music. As he was growing up, he received training on spiritual and baul music from Kamal Uddin, Shadhak Rashid Uddin, Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh.

His versatility ranged from Baul song, Spiritual song to Bhatiali. He went on learning all the exclusive modules of Baul song afterwards along with Shariatti, Marfatti, Nabuoti, Belayati, the various devout form of music. He was motivated by philosophy of renowned Lalan Shah, Panju Shah and Duddu Shah.

He was awarded the Ekushey Padok in 2001 for his outstanding musical achievements. His contribution reflected by the modern singer Habib. He also received Drouhee Kotha-shahitayk Abdur Rouf Choudhury Award in 2000.

Baul Shah Abdul Karim has written and composed over 1600 songs. These songs are organized in six books, like: Aftab Sangeet, Gano Sangeet, Kalnir Dheu, Dholmela, Bhatir Chithi and Kalnir Kooley. BanglaAcademy has translated ten of his songs into English language.

Shah Abdul Karim, the legend of Baul songs and a versatile genius, had all through lived a very simple life often faced with harsh reality. However, with the recent trend of popular 'modern' versions of his (and other) Baul songs in Bangladesh, he is now widely recognized and honoured by people, even by the younger generations who had never been 'fans of tradition folk songs'.

Some of Karim’s most famous musical numbers include ‘Agey ki shundor din kataitham’, ‘Gari cholena cholena’, ‘Jil Mil Jil Mil Kore’, ‘Ashi Bole Gelo Bondhu’, ‘Kano piritee barailarey bondhu’, ‘Maiya lagaise’, ‘Ami koolhara kolonkini’, `Ami tomar kol-er gari’, ‘Shokhi kunjo shajao’, ‘Ailai na ailai na’ and ‘Boshonto Batashey’.