Feroza Begum sings in front of Nazrul. Photo: Star

It has been a year since Feroza Begum, the uncrowned queen of Nazrul Sangeet, left the earth for a better place, but her memories are ever so fresh in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to be in her close quarters. Marking the first death anniversary of the legend (September 9), a memorial programme was held at the Bishwa Sahitya Kendra on September 12. Family members of Feroza Begum and noted personalities from various fields of arts congregated to share their memories with the artiste. 

The first of the speakers at the event, Feroza Begum's brother M Asaf-ud-Doula, outlined the struggles the artiste had to go through her entire life, regarding her music and beyond. He also lamented that artistes in this country will be forgotten, no matter how great they were, because there is no proper way to preserve their memories. M Anis-ud-Doula, another brother of the great artiste and the Chairman of ACI Limited, then announced the initiative to form the Feroza Begum Foundation, through a committee convened by M Asaf-ud-Doula. He further said a 50 lac taka fund will be donated from the artiste's family to the Foundation. 

Anis-ud Doula talks at the programme.

Noted singer Mustafa Zaman Abbasi read out a page from a book on Nazrul that he wrote (“Puribo Ekaki”), where he narrated the first meeting of Feroza Begum with Kazi Nazrul Islam and Kamol Dasgupta at the HMV studio. 

Mustafa Manwar talks at the event

Eminent artist Mustafa Monwar shared experiences of when he was the Director General of BTV and produced the musical programmes of Feroza Begum. He also fondly recalled of a Surmandal which he had that Feroza Begum really liked, and received it as a gift. 

Asaf-ud Doula talks at the programme.

Masih-ud Doula, brother of Feroza Begum, recalled of the backlash their father had to endure when she first began singing, because they were a conservative Muslim family. He also shed light on the impact Feroza Begum had, with how she performed Nazrul Sangeet at Santiniketan which the Visva Bharati was first reluctant of, and how in a place like Saudi Arabia where music by women is strictly restricted, they performed to raise funds for a school and filled and entire indoor stadium with audience. Feroza Begum donated money for that school, the Bangladesh International School, which is one of the top schools of Riyadh today, he mentioned. 

Quamrun Nesa Hasan speaks at the event

Quamrun Nesa Hasan, former Deputy Director General of BTV, also shared precious personal memories with the great artiste, including the last time she performed in public, on the Pahela Boishakh programmes by Channel i at the BICC. 

Mosih-ud Doula talks at the programme.

An emotional Sadya Afreen Mallick, eminent Nazrul Sangeet exponent, reminisced the first time she had met Feroza Begum at a very young age. She was performing the opening song of BTV's first special programme on Nazrul, and performed a Nazrul song composed by Kamol Dasgupta. She also proposed a scholarship or an award for promising Nazrul artistes every year, from the Feroza Begum Foundation. 

Sadya Afreen Mallick talks at the event

Reputed composer Sheikh Sadi Khan also spoke at the event, terming Feroza Begum an example for artistes of today and saying for as long as Nazrul and his works will live on, so will Feroza Begum.