Altaf Mahmud
Encyclopedia
Altaf Mahmud (December 23, 1930 – September, 1971) was a musician, cultural activist and martyred freedom fighter of the Bangladesh Liberation War
. He was also a language activist of the Language Movement
and composer of Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
– the famous song written to commemorate of the event.
. He finished his matriculation from Barisal Zilla School
. Mahmud then got admitted to BM College before he went to Kolkata
to learn painting at the Calcutta Arts School
. Mahmud started singing from very early in his life while he was a school boy. He first learnt music from famous violin player Suren Roy. He learnt to sing gana sangit (people’s song) which gave him popularity during that time.
. Along with his singing Mahmud continued to support the movement. He tuned the song Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
in 1969, in Zahir Raihan
’s film Jibon Theke Neya
.
Altaf Mahmud took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War
in 1971. He created a secret camp inside his house for the freedom fighters. But as the secret revealed, Pakistan Army
caught him on August 30, 1971. He was tortured by them. A lot of other guerrilla war fighters like Shafi Imam Rumi
were also captured by the Pak Army on that day. Along with most of them he was lost ever since. His patriotic songs which were then broadcasted at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
also inspired the war fighters at that time.
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
. He was also a language activist of the Language Movement
Language Movement
The Bengali Language Movement, also known as the Language Movement , was a political effort in Bangladesh , advocating the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of Pakistan...
and composer of Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February is a Bengali song which was written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury to mark the Bengali Language Movement in the 1950s in East Pakistan. The song title is translated as My Brothers Blood Spattered or My Brothers Blood Spattered 21 February...
– the famous song written to commemorate of the event.
Early life
Altaf Mahmud was born in Patarchar village of Muladi Thana under Barisal districtBarisal District
Barisal is a district in southern Bangladesh. It is also the headquarters of Barisal Division.-Geography and climate:Latitude: 22.75, Longitude: 90.36, Altitude: 4....
. He finished his matriculation from Barisal Zilla School
Barisal Zilla School
Barisal Zilla School is a boys school located in Barisal, Bangladesh. One of the oldest schools in Bangladesh, it has more than two thousand students. Beside the school playground, Barisal Zilla School owns famous ground called Poreshagor. The school celebrated its 175th anniversary on 9-10...
. Mahmud then got admitted to BM College before he went to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
to learn painting at the Calcutta Arts School
Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata
The Government College of Art & Craft in Kolkata is one of the oldest Art colleges in India. It was founded on August 16, 1854 at Garanhata, Chitpur, "with the purpose of establishing an institution for teaching the youth of all classes, industrial art based on scientific methods." as the School of...
. Mahmud started singing from very early in his life while he was a school boy. He first learnt music from famous violin player Suren Roy. He learnt to sing gana sangit (people’s song) which gave him popularity during that time.
Professional career
Altaf Mahmud came to Dhaka in 1950 and joined in Dhumketu Shilpi Shongho. Later he became the music director of the institution. In 1956, Mahmud was invited to Vienna Peace Conference. But he was unable to attend as his passport was confiscated by the government at Karachi. There he stayed until 1963 and took talim of classical music to Ustad Abdul Kader Khan. He also associated dance director Ghanashyam and music director Debu Bhattacharya. After Coming back from Karachi to Dhaka to Dhaka, Mahmud worked in 19 different films. Along with famous Jibon Theke Neya, he also worked in films like Kaise Kahu, Kar Bau, Tanha etc. He also remained associated with politics and different cultural organizations. Despite his talent in music, Mahmud was also fluent in painting.Language Movement and Liberation War
During 1950 he sang gonoshongit in many places to inspire the activists of language movementLanguage movement
Language movement may imply any of the following:Language specific social/political movements:*The Bengali Language Movement, which is commemorated by the International Mother Language Day declared by UNESCO and Language Movement Day in Bangladesh...
. Along with his singing Mahmud continued to support the movement. He tuned the song Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano
Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano Ekushey February is a Bengali song which was written by Abdul Gaffar Choudhury to mark the Bengali Language Movement in the 1950s in East Pakistan. The song title is translated as My Brothers Blood Spattered or My Brothers Blood Spattered 21 February...
in 1969, in Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
’s film Jibon Theke Neya
Jibon Theke Neya
Jibon Theke Neya is a Bengali film by Bangladeshi filmmaker Zahir Raihan.The film is a political satire based on the Bengali Language Movement, and stars Shaukat Akbar, Anwar Hossain, Khan Ataur Rahman and Rosy Samad....
.
Altaf Mahmud took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
in 1971. He created a secret camp inside his house for the freedom fighters. But as the secret revealed, Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
caught him on August 30, 1971. He was tortured by them. A lot of other guerrilla war fighters like Shafi Imam Rumi
Shafi Imam Rumi
Shafi Imam Rumi was a guerrilla fighter of the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was the eldest son of Jahanara Imam. In her famous memoir regarding the war, Rumi was seen as one of the premier character in Jahanara Imam's memoire Ekattorer Dingulee and it is because of his death she is called Shaheed...
were also captured by the Pak Army on that day. Along with most of them he was lost ever since. His patriotic songs which were then broadcasted at the Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was a radio broadcasting centre in the Indian city of Kolkata during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. This station played a vital role in increasing mental state of Bangladeshis during the war. In 1971, radio was the only media reaching to the far ends of...
also inspired the war fighters at that time.
Award
- Altaf Mahmud was awarded Ekushey PadakEkushey PadakEkushey Padak is one of the highest civilian awards in Bangladesh, introduced in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement of 1952 that took place on February 21, 1952.-2001:*Shah Abdul Karim...
in 1977. He was awarded the award for his contribution for the Bengali culture and in Bangladesh Liberation War. - In 2004, he was awarded an Independence Day AwardIndependence Day AwardThe Independence Day Award , also termed Independence Award , is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. Introduced in 1977, this award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organizations in recognition of substantial contribution to one of many fields, including the War...
for his special contribution to Bangla culture.