Sujayendra Das,

Saadi Mohammad, well icon in pursuit of popularising Rabindrasangeet in both Bangladesh, India plus rest of the globe terminated his precious life during evening hours of March 13. It was no doubt a tragic end to this talented vocalist of Bangladesh as well as that of the Sub-Continent plus rest of the globe. It will be difficult for all Rabindrasangeet lovers of the modern age to recover from this dreaded shock which humanity ever had faced in the midst of 21^st century.

From the philosophical point of view, there is a common thought which generates in our mind. That there is no certainty of human longevity. As we are alive now. Any moment we might depart for eternal peace and no man’s land. But as long we remain alive we must aim to contribute something vital for human welfare and emancipation. Saadi Mohammad was one such personality in his role as a well-known Rabindrasangeet vocalist of repute who will be reminisced in our life forever.

This writer who hails from Kolkata, begins the day by listening to Saadida’s mellifluous voice. When I hear his mellifluous voice then my heart and mind derives new energy and courage upon self. The age was nothing alarming but why did he choose this path. The age was just seventy. The way Kalim Sharafi, Santidev Ghosh, Sailajaranjan Majumdar, Wahidul Haq etc could get such prolonged longevities why not Saadida? Nobody could give me proper answer to it. Saadi was just seventy years of age. It is nothing as per current scenario.

Saadi Mohammad was such a personality who wished to begin his life as an engineer. But due to the impact of ambience he decided to switch stream after being in the midst of his preliminary life as an engineering student. But he decided to shift his stream to vocal music. Hence he decided to move on to Shantiniketan on a Bangladesh government scholarship. From the University of Viswa Bharati, Saadida obtained his B. Music and M.Music from VBU. 

Returning to his motherland, Saadi Mohammad decided to coach budding talents in the world of Rabindrasangeet. To his students he was just like an Almighty.  That was evident the way his students converged at his Mohammadpur residence to pay their last respect. Saadida’s basics in the world off Rabindrasangeet was inculcated upon him by his able mentors like Santidev Ghosh, Kanika Bandopadhyay, Nilima Sen and Shailajaranjan Majumdar.

Now coming to Rabindrasangeet which was sung by Saadida, all were superb in the mind of all his ardent admirers of Bangladesh and India. He was also equally proficient in modern song and patriotic songs. Not only he rendered solo performance, he also performed with other legends like Rezwana Chowdhury Bonya, Papia Sarwar Shakila Zafar etc various other vocalists of Bangladesh.

Born in an erudite family based in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Young Saadi was moulded into music by his family. One of his younger sibling is Shibli Mohammad, the noted danseuse of repute, who is equally popular in both Bangladesh, India plus rest of the globe.

As days pass off, Saadi Mohammad will remain immortal in the mind of all his ardent admirers in Bangladesh, India plus rest of the globe. But truly his demise under tragic circumstances cannot be acceptable throughout our life. In the science of philosophy there is a well-known saying that one day all of us has to depart for eternal peace. But why the humanity has been so cruel in not preventing Saadida from taking such a cruel steps in life. If he was alive, he could have given us more solace through his mellifluous voice.

Now Saadi Mohammad is in a different world. He has become mixed up with the stars. Rabindrasangeet vocalists of Bangladesh and India will always feel blessed by him. Any form of Rabindrasangeet the singer was well adept to perform. Such as love (prem), nature (prakriti) and worship (puja) he was well equipped to perform in front of large audiences in Bangladesh, India and other parts of the globe.

Among all his popular Rabindrasangeet songs, prominent among all are stated as such, Baje Baje Ramya Bina Baje, Je Chilo Amar Swapono Charini, Koto Baro Bhebe Chinu, Aji Bangladesher Hridoy Hote, Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ashe, Din Guli Mor Sonar Khancha, Purano Sei Diner Khata etc.

Pity part to be noted is that Bangladesh gave birth to several Rabindrasangeet singers. Among the present one, Saadida was holding on to the baton but his untimely and tragic demise was not only shattering and shocking to all his admirers in Bangladesh and India. This will remain as stigma in our mind and heart as the humanity could not give proper recognition and reverence to this talented Bangladeshi soul. Life has become so cruel and harsh that real talents are always ignored. Despite the shock and despondency we faced. But we derive solace upon us.  That as long as Bonyadi, Papiadi, Fahembhai, Rajan Mustafa Dipraw, Moynabhai, Anima Roy etc remain alive, they will hold aloft the noble sanctity of Rabindrasangeet in the upcoming days of our life.

Lastly I pay my deepest homage to this talented soul in the world of Rabindrasangeet in the South Asian Sub-Continent. Saadida will remain deeply embedded in our soul forever as days pass off like swift of current. Hope other vocalists will try to get rid of from this traumatic phases of their life. Lastly it would be indecorous on our part that Saadida is not paid the due respect in lieu of his services in the world of Rabindrasangeet and Modern Song along with Patriotic Song.