Renowned Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet exponent and Ekushey Padak laureate, Papia Sarwar, 72, has passed away. She breathed her last at 8 a.m. on Thursday (Dec 12) at a private hospital in Dhaka. Her husband, Sarwar Alam, confirmed the heartbreaking news to media. The late artiste's remains will be kept at the BIRDEM mortuary on Thursday. On Friday (Dec 13), following the Jumma prayers, her Janaza will be held, and she will be laid to rest at Banani graveyard.
Papia Sarwar's condition became critical on Wednesday night, prompting doctors to place her on ventilator support as her health continued to deteriorate.
It has been reported that Papia Sarwar had been battling cancer for several years and remained under medical care.
Papia Sarwar was born on Nov 21, 1952, in Barishal. A devoted admirer of Rabindranath Thakur from her childhood, Papia joined Chhayanaut in Class Six. Later, she enrolled at Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA). Since 1967, she had been a listed artiste for both radio and television.
In 1973, she travelled to India to pursue a degree in Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan under a scholarship from the Government of India.
After Bangladesh's independence, she became the first Bangladeshi to secure this scholarship and complete her graduation there. Prior to this, she received musical training at Chhayanaut under Wahidul Haque, Sanjida Khatun, and Zahedur Rahim.
Her first audio album, titled after her own name, 'Papia Sarwar', was released in 1982.
Throughout her illustrious musical career, Papia Sarwar earned the love of millions of listeners for her renditions of Rabindra Sangeet. Her unique voice and distinctive singing style were widely acclaimed in the music industry.
She also achieved success in modern Bangla songs. One of her most popular songs, "Nai Telephone Nai Re Pion Nai Re Telegram", garnered her immense popularity among Bangla music enthusiasts.
Her last album, 'Akashpane Hath Baralam', was released in 2013.
Papia Sarwar was recognised with the Rabindra Award by Bangla Academy in 2013. She later received the Bangla Academy Fellowship in 2015. Her remarkable contributions were further acknowledged in 2021 when she was honoured with the Ekushey Padak.
Papia Sarwar graced the position of General Secretary of the National Rabindra Sangeet Sammilan Parishad and subsequently served on its Executive Committee. She established a musical ensemble called Gitasudha in 1996.
