BIOGRAPHY OF
Azam Khan
(Singer, Songwriter, Record producer, Freedom Fighter.)
(28 February 1950– 5 June 2011)
Table of Contents
ToggleBIOGRAPHY OF AZAM KHAN
Mahbubul Haque Khan, mostly known as “Azam Khan” is the lionized name in the history of Bangladeshi Music. Azam khan was popularly known as the pop-guru of Bangladesh as well as is the pioneer of the rock music industry in our country. He is also referred to by the honorific nicknames “Rock Guru”, “Rock Shomrat” or simply “Guru”.
He was a Bangladeshi singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead singer for the pop-rock band “Uchcharon”. He was also a freedom fighter. He took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. He is considered to be one of the greatest artists in the history of Bangladeshi popular music.
Mahbubul Haque Khan was born on February 28, 1950 at Azimpur, Dhaka. He was born and raised in Dhaka. He had been interested in music since his childhood and ultimately began his music career in his hometown with the group “ক্রান্তিশিল্পীগোষ্ঠী (Trinity Artist Group)” in 1967.
He attended in the 1969 mass uprising, against the Pakistani army. In 1971, inspired by his father, he and his brothers took part in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He was trained in Meghaloy, India. He fought in the Sector 2, under Major Khaled Mosharraf.
In mid-December, 1971 he came back from the camps and started his music career again. He found the pioneering rock band “Uchcharon”, along with his friends Nilu (lead guitars) and Mansoor (rhythm guitars), Sadek (drums). They first appeared on Bangladesh Television in 1972. They got commercial success with the hit “রেললাইনের বস্তিতে (In the Slum Beside the Rail Line)” in 1975. Releasing more hit songs in the 1970s, like “আলাল ও দুলাল (Alal and Dulal)”, “সালেকামালেকা (Saleka Maleka)” and “পাপড়ি কেন বোঝে না? (Why Doesn’t Papri Understand?)”.
Azam Khan died in 5 June 2011 at the age of 61 from oral cancer in Dhaka.
Life of “Azam Khan” At a Glance:
◉ Real Name: Mahbubul Haque Khan
◉ Mostly Known As: Azam Khan
◉ Best Known by Fans: Pop-Guru, Rock Guru, Rock Shomrator simply “Guru”.
◉ Profession:
‣ Singer
‣ Songwriter
‣ Record producer
‣ Freedom Fighter
◉ Date of Birth:28 February 1950 – 5 June 2011
◉ Place of Birth: Azimpur, Dhaka Bangladesh
◉ Nationality: Bangladeshi
◉ Religion: Islam
◉ Education:
‣ Motijheel Provincial School
‣ Siddheswari Boys’ High School
‣ T & T College
◉ Father: Aftabuddin Khan
◉ Mother: Jobeda Begum
◉ Brother: Sayeed Khan, Alam Khan, Leyakot Ali Khan
◉ Sister: Shamima Akhter Khanom
◉ Spouse: Sahida Begum
◉ Children: Three
◉ Daughter: Ima Khan, Aroni Khan
◉ Son: Hridoy Khan
◉ Zodiac Sign:Pisces
◉ Years active:1967–2011
◉ Death:5 June 2011
◉ Dying Age: 61 years
◉ Dying Place: Dhaka Combined Military Hospital
◉ Reason For Death: Oral cancer which had spread to lungs
◉ Genres:
‣ Pop
‣ Rock and roll
◉ Instruments
‣ Vocals
‣ guitar
◉ Labels:
‣ Soundtek
‣ Sonali
‣ CD Sounds
‣ Sargam
‣ Sangeeta
‣ D-Series
◉ Associated acts:
‣ Rocket
‣ AyubBachchu
‣ Fakir Alamgir
‣ FerdousWahid
‣ PiluMomtaz
‣ FirozShai
‣ NazmaJaman
‣ Uchcharon
‣ Trinity Artist Group
Early Life of “Azam Khan” :
Azam Khan was born on February 28, 1950 in Azimpur, Dhaka. He was the son of Aftabuddin Khan and Jobeda Begum. They lived in the No. 10 Government Quarter Colony. His father was the administrative officer of Secretariat Home Department, as well as a homeopathic doctor on the side. His mother Jobeda, was a singer, a source of his passion for music. He continued his music venture due to the inspiration from his mother and amalgamation of delicate fortitude.
He had three brothers named as Sayeed Khan, Alam Khan and Leyakot Ali Khan as well as a sister named Shamima Akhter Khanom. In 1956, his father built a house in Kamalapur.
Education:
Azam Khan was admitted to Motijheel Provincial School. In 1965, he was admitted to Siddheswari Boys’ High School in the commercial division, from where he passed the SSC exam in 1968.
He then attended T & T College in 1970, but his studies were could not be completed due to the Liberation War in which he partook with his father and siblings.
Participation in Liberation War:
Azam Khan took part in the mass uprising in East Pakistan (Public Awakening, গণঅভ্যুত্থান), In 1969 against the West Pakistan government. He was a member of the Trinity Artist Group (ক্রান্তিশিল্পীগোষ্ঠী) then. He used to compose songs against Pakistani rulers. In 1971, his father Aftabuddin became the senior officer in the secretariat. His father inspired his brothers and him to go to the war. He went to Agartala on foot with his two friends. His target was to work under Major Khaled Mosharraf in Sector 2. He took part in the war at the age of 21. He went to Melaghar Camp in India for training. At the end of the training, he fought against the Pakistani army in Comilla. He first fought straight some time in Saldah, after that he returned to Agartala again. He was then sent to Dhaka to take part in the guerrilla war. Khan was in charge of a section of two sectors. The sector commander was colonel Khaled Mosharraf. In Dhaka, he took part in several guerrilla attacks in Dhaka and around it as a section commander. AzamKhan is basically responsible for managing guerrilla operations in Jatrabari-Gulshan area. The most notable of these was “Operation Titas” under his leadership. Their duty was to destroy some gas pipelines in Dhaka, especially Hotel Intercontinental (Now Sheraton Hotel), Hotel Purbani obstructing gas supply. Their goal was to make sure that the foreigners staying in those hotels can understand that a war is going on in the country. In this war, he was hit in his left ear. Which later obstructed his hearing. Azam Khan entered Dhaka with his accomplices in mid-December 1971. Earlier that, they defeated the Pakistani army in a battle organized in Trimohani near Madartek
Career of Azam Khan:
After the war, Azam Khan entered the music arena. He founded the band “উচ্চারণ (Pronunciation)” in 1973. The ‘legendary guitarist,’ Rocket then joined the band. His first appearance in music domain was from Spondon’s musical program and performance at Bangladesh Television, in DIT Building in Dhaka about 3rd quarter of 1972 with rock singers like Nasir Ahmed Apu, Firoz Shai. Guitarist Mansur, Congo player Naseem of “স্পন্দন (Pulsation)”. The program was directed by Mansur Ahmed Nipu of “স্পন্দন (Pulsation)” and produced by Noazesh Ali Khan of BTV.
His rock band earned instant reputation and Azam Khan came to be known as “Rock Guru”. Some of his biggest hits are “Ore Saleka, Ore Maleka”, “JiboneKichhuPabona Re”, “Ami JareChaire”, “AshiAshi Bole Tumi”, “Obhimani”, “Rail liner bostite”, “Hei Allah Hei Allah Re”, “Alal O Dulal”.
He was also a passionate cricketer, having played in Dhaka’s second division league as late as 1998, when he was around 48.
Family of Azam Khan:
Azam Khan’s father was Aftabuddin Khan and his mother was Jobeda Begum. He had three brothers named as Sayeed Khan, Alam Khan and Leyakot Ali Khan as well as a sister named Shamima Akhter Khanom.
AzamKhan married Sahida Begum on 14 January 1981 in Madartek, Dhaka, at the age of 31. The couple had three children. The first daughter Ima Khan, first son Hridoy Khan and second daughter Aroni Khan. But unfortunately, AzamKhan divorced his wife in 1993.
Mohammad Ishaque Chowdhury was his father and Nurjahan Begum was his mother. He had two brothers. He was the eldest among them.
He married FerdousChandana on 31 January 1991.He met FerdousChandana in the early 1986, when he came to Dhaka to record his debut solo album RoktoGolap.Together the couple had two children. Their daughter is Fairuz SaffraAyub who was born in 1994 and son AhnafTazwarAyub who was born in 1996.
Death of Azam Khan:
Azam Khan was was suffering from oral cancer which had spread to his lungs. He died on 5 June 2011 at Dhaka Combined Military Hospital at the age of 61. He He was buried in the Martyred Intellectuall’s Graveyard, Mirpur, Dhaka
In 2013, Khan’s family established “Azam Khan Foundation” aiming to help destitute artists
Influences:
Azam Khan’s influences included famous Indian singers such as Kishore Kumar, Hemanta Mukherjee, Manna Dey and British rock bands like, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. His mother who was a singer herself, was most likely his biggest influence however, for she was responsible for instilling in him a passion for music from a very early age.
Awards:
AzamKhan has been awarded several awards for his contributions to the country and the Bangladeshi music.
◉ Best Pop Singer Awardin 1993.
◉ Television Audience Award in 2002
◉ Lifetime Achievement Award with Coca-Cola gold bottle
◉ Award of Council of Urban Guerilla
◉ Dhaka ’71 and Freedom Fighter Award from Radio Today.
◉ On 20 February 2019, he was awarded the second highest civilian honour award “EkusheyPadak” posthumously for his contribution to the 1971 Liberation War and Bangladeshi music industry by prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Discography:
◉ “অভিমানী (Arrogant)”
◉ “আলালওদুলাল (Alal and Dulal)”
◉ “মাটিরপৃথিবীতে (On the Earth)”
◉ “বাংলাদেশ (Bangladesh)”
◉ “কিছুচাওয়া (Something to Ask)”
◉ “দিদিমা (Granny)”
◉ “কেউনাইআমার (I Have No One)”
◉ “নীলনয়না (Blue Eyes)”
◉ “পুরেযাচ্ছে (It’s Burning)”
◉ “রেললাইনেরওইবস্তিতে (In the Slum Beside the Rail Line)”
◉ “গুরুতোমায়সালাম (Salam to You, Guru)” (2011)
◉ “সালেকামালেকা (SalekaMaleka)” (2017)
Filmography:
- “হীরামনি (Hiramani)” in 1986
- “Godfather” in 1993
Azam Khan was a change-maker to the rock and pop music of our country. The history of Bangladesh rock music industry will never be completed without mentioning his contributions
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