Ramkanai Das

Pandit Ramkanai Das
Das and his wife Subarna Das in New York (2008)
Born	1935 Sunamganj District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	5 September 2014(2014-09-05) (aged 78–79) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Awards	Ekushey Padak

Ramkanai Das (1935 – 5 September 2014) was a Bangladeshi folk and classical musician.^[1] He was awarded Ekushey Padak by the Government of Bangladesh.

Early life

Das was born in Sunamganj District in 1935 to his parents Rashiklal Das and Divya Mayi Das. They were folk singers, lyricists, and composers. He was one of 6 children with two older sisters and three younger brothers. Das's grandfather, Prakash Chandra Talukdar, and great-grandfather, Ramcharan Talukdar, were all also musicians. He married Subarna Das in 1960.

Death and legacy

Das died on 5 September 2014. He wrote and composed almost one hundred songs including "Shuno Kokilaye Koirache Dhoni," "Manushe Manushe Keno Bibhedh Hoye," and "Shuno Bokule Boshiya Gahe." He has also composed popular songs such as "Shadher Lau Banailo More Boiragi" and "Ore Mon Dorachar."

Das inspired his wife, Subarna Das, to start composing songs. His elder sister, Sushama Das, has started gaining more popularity as a folk artist. His only daughter, Kaberi Das, is a singer and president of Sangeet Parishad, New York. Her two daughters, Paromita, and Shrutikona are also renowned musicians in America. Pandit Ramkanai Das's elder son, Arun Chandra Das, is a musical instrument businessman and his younger son, Pinusen Das, is a tabla artiste. Pinusen's wife, Anindita Chowdhury, is a renowned Nazrul Sangeet artiste in Bangladesh.^[1]

References