Seventy Years of Shahid Mahmud Jangi’s Musical Legacy

From “Aj Je Shishu” to “Ghum Bhanga Shohore”: Jangi’s Seventy-Year Journey

On a Friday evening in Dhanmondi, the space in front of Russian House slowly transformed into a living archive of Bangladesh’s modern music history. One by one, familiar faces arrived—Nakeeb Khan, Samina Chowdhury, Rafiqul Alam, Kabir Bakul, alongside musicians from younger generations. Fans gathered eagerly, phones raised for selfies, as conversations overlapped with laughter and memories. By six o’clock, every inch of the open area was filled—not merely for a book launch, but for a celebration of a life woven deeply into the country’s cultural fabric.

The occasion marked the 70th birth anniversary of lyricist Shahid Mahmud Jangi and the unveiling of the commemorative volume “Apon Aloy Shahid Mahmud Jangi: Gane Gane Sottor”. Though formally a book event, the evening quickly evolved into something richer—an intimate cultural gathering of songs, recollections, and shared histories.

The programme opened poignantly with children from Learn Guitar with Asad performing Jangi’s iconic song “Aj Je Shishu”. Young voices, tentative yet sincere, echoed a song rooted in social awareness, stirring a quiet emotional response among the audience. The first segment concluded with Souls band’s “Ekdin Ghum Bhanga Shohore”, symbolically bridging decades of Bangladeshi band music—from protest and conscience to urban melancholy.

As the book unveiling began, editor Joy Shahriar invited a diverse group of artists to the stage, including Rafiqul Alam, Khurshid Alam, Nakeeb Khan, Pilu Khan, Faisal Siddiqi Bogi, Nasim Ali Khan, and Samina Chowdhury. The stage ceased to resemble a formal dais; instead, it became a courtyard of memories. Each speaker offered a personal glimpse into their relationship with Jangi—stories of missed collaborations, late fulfilments, and creative longing.

Rafiqul Alam reflected that collaborating with Jangi late in his career felt like completing an unfinished chapter. Samina Chowdhury highlighted the importance of recognising those who work behind the scenes, noting that lyricists like Jangi shape legacies without always standing in the spotlight.

The evening’s musical segment unfolded like a biography in melody. Songs such as “Tritiyo Bishwa Emoni Bishmoy”, “Harano Bikel-er Golpo Boli”, “He Bangladesh Tomar Boyosh”, and “Shomoy Jeno Kate Na” were performed by renowned vocalists and bands including Renaissance. Between performances, anecdotes surfaced—how a line was written, what moment inspired it—drawing the audience ever closer.

The book itself features writings from artists, family members, researchers, and journalists, portraying Jangi not from a single angle but as a multidimensional figure—lyricist, organiser, mentor, and cultural catalyst. Dedicated to the fighters of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra, the volume reflects the political and artistic currents that shaped his life.

Born in Chattogram on 1 August 1956, Shahid Mahmud Jangi’s life has defied linear definition. Teacher, organiser, advertiser, café founder—his identity extends beyond songwriting. Though he wrote selectively, his songs endure because they speak of society, struggle, love, disillusionment, and hope. At seventy, this celebration was not merely a birthday tribute; it was a collective salute to a man who helped shape the soul of Bangladesh’s modern music.

Event Snapshot