Shah Abdul Karim

Biography

Baul Shah Abdul Karim (Bengali: শাহ আবদুল করিম; 15 February 1916 – 12 September 2009) was a Bangladeshi Baul musician and philosopher. Widely regarded as one of the greatest Baul musicians of all time, he was called Baul Samrat (The Baul Emperor). The Government of Bangladesh awarded him the Ekushey Padak, the country's second highest civilian decoration, in 2001. Alongside his enormous discography of Baul music, Karim had contributed significantly to developing the Baul philosophy; his work is generally seen as the refined continuation of classic Bauls like Fakir Lalon Shah. Beyond Baulism, Karim's multidisciplinary contribution to several sectors, including body theory, Sufism, Ma'rifa, and revolutionary music has made him one of the enduring examples of Bangladeshi secular pluralism.

Early life

Karim was born on 15 February 1916 in Derai in Sunamganj, Sylhet. He took his initial lessons in Baul music and philosophy from Baul Rashid Uddin and Baul Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh. In 1957, Karim began living in Ujan Dhol, a village near his home, with his wife, Aftabunnesa Bibi, whom he adoringly called Sarala (a simple girl).

Personal life

Contradicting the Baul tradition of lifelong celibacy, Shah Abdul Karim was married and had a son, Shah Nur Jalal, who followed in his footsteps in becoming a Baul himself.

Despite finding fame as a musician, Karim took farming as his primary profession and was a farmer until his old age.
Karim died in Sylhet on 12 September 2009 due to respiratory problems.

Legacy

Karim's work had fallen out of the mainstream until the early 2000s, when Habib Wahid released his debut album, Krishno. The album was heavily influenced by Bangladeshi British musicians of Sylheti origin, such as Kaya, who were acquainted with Karim's music. Krishno introduced the Bangladeshi audience to their first taste of folk fusion and was an instant hit.
Subsequently, several famous Bangladeshi artists, including Dolchut and Muza, sang their own renditions of Karim's songs.