User:Sufidisciple/sandbox/Abdul Gafur Hali

Professor Hans Harder wrote: "Abdul Gaphur Hali: Mystische Lieder aus Chittagong’. NETZ 2, 2000, 30-34.

Abdul Gaphur Hali Abdul Gafur Hali Maizbhanderi Abdul Gafur Hali

Abdul Gafur Hali (আব্দুল গফুর হালী) (b. 1929) is a legend folk Lyricist, Composer and Singer of Bangladesh, also is the first Folk play Author in Local language of Chittagong. Though, his works are mainly in regional language of Chittagong but get popularity across the territory and beyond. He is also known as Gafur Hali Maizbhanderi (গফুর হালী মাইজভান্ডারী) for his Sufi ideology.

Birth and family
He has born at Rashidabad of Potiya under Chittagong district in 1929. His father was Abdus Sobhan and mother’s name Gultaj Khatun. He got married with Rajia Begum in his 21/22.

Education
Hali studied at Rashidabad Primary School and Joara Bishwamvar High School. Aside, since early age, he has been inspired by the works of another historically remarkable singer-lyricist Askar Ali Pandit (আষ্কর আলী পন্ডিত) of native village and latterly became influenced by Maizbhanderi Sufi Singers like Moulana Bazlul Karim Kanchanpuri (বজলুল করীম কাঞ্চনপুরী), Moulana Abdul Hadi (মৌলানা আব্দুল হাদী) and Ramesh Shil (রমেশ শীল). Though, institutionally he never learned how to sing or play a Harmonium from anybody but used to follow their works.

Career
Hali achieved 1st position in Audition of Agrabad Radio Station at his early age. Since 1963 his songs has regularly been publicized On-Air through Radio as collected songs because, was not registered. After 7 years he became a registered Singer- Lyricist- Composer of East Pakistan Radio. It is Hali's profession that, till today at aged over eighty, he has been leading his life as a professional Lyricist, Composer and Singer. His Lyrics and compositions can be categorized in Socio-Cultural and Sufi method, where Socio-Cultural songs are more than one thousand Five hundred there Sufi songs also over thousand. Even though, has pressure from family but Hali could never think except song, feeling no interest in any other work. Once in 1955/56 while singing at Maizbhander Dorbar Sharif, Hali saw huge money over his Harmonium, listeners has given out of love, was his first income as an artist. That makes him to realize, even by singing a song, one can survive, since then took it as of his profession. His first Maizbhanderi Sufi Lyric was: Will you play How long!/ Will you die not?/ How many has come and gone/ Were they belongs to! (‘আর কত কাল খেলবি খেলা!/মরণ কি তোর হবে না?/আইল কত গেল কত/কোথায় তাঁদের ঠিকানা). Now days, he is a regular Lyricist and composer for Television and Radio Channels of Bangladesh.

Documentary
An Documentary Film named Methopother Gaan (মেঠো পথের গান) has developed representing his works and thought. Film maker Shaybal Chawdhury has created this 39 minutes length documentary representing Hali as a ideal artist originated from the rural locality. Famous contemporary singers like Sam Suntor Boisnob (শ্যাম সুন্দর বৈষ্ণব) Safali Gosh (শেফালী ঘোষ), Kallani Ghosh (কল্যাণী ঘোষ), Abdul Mannan Rana (অাব্দুল মান্না রানা), Salim Nizami (সেলিম নিজামী) and many others re-performed his songs in that documentary.

Academy and ode
Abdul Gafur Hali Academy has formed regarding Cultural and Social research. Aside, a Lyrics and Musical notation collection named Hali’s Ode including his 100 Maizbhanderi and Mystical Lyrics/ Songs has Published by Abdul Gafur Hali Academy and patronized by PHP Group.

Famous work
Among more than 1,500; some of his most popular Sufi songs are:
 * Dui Kul-er Sultan Vangari (দুই কূলের সোলতান ভান্ডারী),
 * Dekhe jare Maizbhandere (দেখে যারে মাইজভাণ্ডারে),
 * Koto khela janore moula (কতো খেলা জানরে মওলা)
 * Maizbhandere ki dhoon ache (মাইজভাণ্ডারে কি ধন আছে)
 * Cholo jai jiyarote mohsen awliar dorbare (চল যাই জিয়ারতে মোহছেন আউলিয়ার দরবারে)
 * Allahr fokir more Jodi (আল্লাহর ফকির মরে যদি)

Meanwhile, over thousand, some popular Socio-Cultural songs are:
 * Shona bondhu tui amare korli re dewana (সোনাবন্ধু তুই আমারে করলি রে দিওয়ানা)
 * Roshik tel kajla kon Panjabiwala (রসিক তেল কাজলা কোন পাঞ্জাবিঅলা)
 * Bondhu Aar Doardi Jao (বন্ধু আঁর দুয়ারদি যঅ)
 * oi lal kurta wala (অই লাল কোর্তা অলা)
 * Sotho kailla pirit ar (ছোডকাইল্লা পীরিত আঁর)
 * Noo matai noobulai gelire bondhua (ন মাতাই ন বোলাই গেলিরে বন্ধুয়া)
 * Moner-o Bagane- Fotilo folree (মনের বাগানে ফুটিল ফুলরে)
 * Tui jaiba shonadia bondhu, mach dhoribar lai (তুঁই যাইবা সোনাদিয়া বন্ধু, মাছ মারিবার লাই)
 * O sham Rengum noo jaio (অ শ্যাম রেঙ্গুম ন যাইও)
 * Dhol bajer r mic bajer (ঢোল বাজের আর মাইক বাজের)
 * Banu re! o banu! ai jaiumgui Chatga shohrot tuarlai ainnum ki (বানুরে অ বানু আঁই যাইয়্যুম গই চাটগাঁ শঅরত তোঁয়ার লাই আইন্নুম কি?)

During liberation war of Bangladesh, he used to visit war and sang songs inspire fighters, among many others, one of his song freedom fighters liked and that was: It is impossible to be familiar with you and me / You are Pathat and I am Bengali/ In between yours and my country/ distance is of 2000 miles (তোর লয় আঁর লয় ন অইব অভাই/ আঁই বাঙালি, তুই পাঠান/ তোর দেশে আর আঁর দেশে/ দুই হাজার মাইল ব্যবধান).

International acknowledgement
Professor Hans Harder of Heidelberg University, Germany visited different places in Bangladesh including Maizbhander of Chittagong in 1989. The reason how, he meet Abdul Gafur Hali through another popular singer Kolyani Ghosh. Latterly Harder published a research work (treatise) named Ferkute Gafur; Spritht Gafur Means, Dippy gafur Says (ডার ফেরুকটে গফুর, স্প্রিখট (পাগলা গফুর, বলে) in 2004. It includes 76 songs of Hali. Hans Harder denoted the songs as, "Mystical songs of East Bengal composed by Abdul Gafur Hali". He narrated about Abdul Gafur Hali, "Inspite of having any higher degree or designation of any University, Abdul Gafur Hali with his own effort was able to have an extraordinary knowledge".

Aside, an album entitled, Foreign Beloved (বন্ধু পরবাসী) produced by Indian Music director Koustob Sen Varat, has dedicated to Abdul Gafur Hali. Producer included Hali's five songs in that music album.

Award
He achieved a number of National and institutional Awards. Some of those are:
 * Rahe Bhander Ennoble Award (রাহে ভান্ডার এ্যানোবেল এ্যাওয়ার্ড) - 2012
 * Chittagong Association Award/ Chittagong Summit Dhaka (চট্টগ্রাম সমিতি পদক) - 2012
 * Bangladesh Musical Organizations' Association (বাংলাদেশ সংগীত সংগঠন সমন্বয় পরিষদ) Award - 2013
 * Sukhendu Memorial Theater Award (সুখেন্দু স্মৃতি নাট্যপদক) - 2013
 * District Cultural Academy Award (জেলা শিল্পকলা একাডেমি সম্মাননা) - 2013