Music Legend Ferdausi Rahman Releases Memoir Detailing Her Journey

Ferdausi Rahman, a legendary figure in Bengali music, has released her highly anticipated autobiography, titled Loke Bole Prem Ami Boli Jala (People Call It Love, I Call It Suffering). The official book launch took place on Tuesday at the Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The event brought together notable cultural figures, including veteran singer Syed Abdul Hadi and renowned vocalist Rumana Morshed Kanak Chapa, alongside many other artists and cultural personalities.

The title of the memoir is drawn from one of Rahman’s most celebrated songs. Explaining the philosophy behind the name, she stated that her deep devotion to music represents the “love” in her life, whilst the relentless practice, sacrifice, and immense hard work required to sustain that love embody the “suffering”.

Reflecting humbly on her career, Rahman expressed that she did not feel she had accomplished anything extraordinary. Instead, she described the book as a tapestry of stories about the people she met and the events she witnessed. Readers will find vivid accounts of a bygone era, specifically detailing the unique atmosphere of Old Dhaka, long-forgotten social customs, traditional culinary habits, and changing lifestyles.

Syed Abdul Hadi, her long-time contemporary, shared fond memories of their artistic journey. Their association began in 1958 when they enrolled together at the University of Dhaka. Their professional bond deepened in 1965 when they recorded their first cinematic duet for the film Dakor Babu. He noted that as the daughter of the legendary folk maestro Abbasuddin Ahmed, Rahman had the privilege of being nurtured by some of the most prominent musicians of the subcontinent from a very tender age, a factor that greatly enriched her artistic vision.

Kanak Chapa described Rahman as the “Himalayas” of Bengali music, highlighting her rare and equal mastery over diverse genres, including modern songs, Nazrul Sangeet, classical music, and folk tunes. To mark the opening of the ceremony, singer Anupama Mukti performed two of Rahman’s timeless classics, Loke Bole Prem and Ami Sagorer Neel Noyone Mekhechi.

Born on 28 June 1941 in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, Rahman received her earliest musical lessons from her father. In 1947, at just six years old, her voice was broadcast on Radio Pakistan. Following the partition of the subcontinent, her family relocated permanently to Dhaka.

Her career as a playback singer began in 1960 with the film Asiya. Over the next two decades, she lent her voice to approximately 250 films. Remarkably, she also performed live on the historic debut broadcast day of Dhaka Television in 1964. Beyond national borders, she travelled extensively across India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Russia, and Canada, introducing global audiences to the richness of Bengali music.

For younger generations, she remains the beloved face of the state-television music education programme Esho Gan Shikhi. Her multi-faceted talent earned her the National Film Award for Best Music Director in 1977. Over her long career, she has been honoured with the Independence Award, the Ekushey Padak, the Nasiruddin Gold Medal, and the Churulia Nazrul Gold Medal, among numerous other accolades. Her memoir serves as a vital historical record of the musical and cultural evolution of the region.