‘Feroza Begum Memorial Lecture and Scholarship Award’ honours young scholars
The “Feroza Begum Memorial Lecture and Scholarship Award 2026” was held today (August 11) at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban at the University of Dhaka at 11 am, celebrating the life, music and enduring legacy of legendary Nazrul Sangeet singer Feroza Begum. The programme was attended by Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam as the chief guest, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarker, ACI Group Chairman and trustee donor M Anis Ud Dowla, Treasurer Professor M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Department of Music Dr Priyanka Gope and Sadya Afreen Mallick, a renowned Nazrul Sangeet singer, Chief of Culture Initiatives at The Daily Star and founder of Gems of Nazrul.
Feroza Begum remains one of the most influential voices in the history of Nazrul Sangeet. In her nearly seven-decade career, she performed 380 solo concerts at home and abroad. She began singing at an early age and performed on All India Radio while she was still a class six student. Although she performed Adhunik, Urdu Geet, Ghazal and Thumri, her greatest contribution was to Nazrul Sangeet. She received the Independence Award and several other prestigious honours, including an honorary D Litt from Burdwan University in India.
The event opened with a group song performance of two Nazrul Sangeet pieces, “Shukno Patar Nupur Paye” and “Chokh Gelo, Chokh Gelo, Keno Dakis Re”. This was followed by a group dance performance to Feroza Begum’s rendition of “Shukno Patar Nupur Paye”. The performances created a musical atmosphere before the guests took their seats on stage and the formal session began.
Following the opening performances, Sadya Afreen Mallick delivered the memorial lecture titled “Surer Dhrubotara: Sur Shomraggi Feroza Begum”. Describing Feroza as one of the rare artistes whose contribution had become part of cultural heritage, Sadya said, “She was not only an extraordinary singer. She was a representative of an era, an artiste of an era.”
She highlighted Feroza Begum’s role in restoring Nazrul Sangeet to a prominent place in Bengali culture. “In her voice, Nazrul’s songs became a unique combination of the poet’s feelings and philosophy,” she said. “She did not just perform Nazrul Sangeet. She reconstructed and re-established it.”
The award segment then followed. Two students who secured first position in their honours examinations were given floral greetings in recognition of their academic achievement and were honoured as gold medal recipients. They will formally receive their medals at the upcoming convocation.
The 11 recipients of the Feroza Begum Memorial Scholarship were then called to the stage. Six students from the master’s programme and five first year students received the scholarship. The guests handed the scholarship documents to the recipients.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr A B M Obaidul Islam congratulated the scholarship recipients and wished them success. He urged them to continue their work beyond academic achievements. “You cannot stop. You have to move forward,” he said. “We must remember Feroza Begum’s work, her contribution and the unfinished work she left behind,” he added.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Dr Md Abul Kalam Sarker urged students to learn from Feroza Begum’s life and continue the practice of Nazrul Sangeet. ACI Group Chairman and trustee donor M Anis Ud Dowla also congratulated the scholarship recipients.
Two scholarship recipients then spoke at the programme. They shared their feelings about receiving the scholarship and expressed gratitude to the university and the Feroza Begum Trust Fund for recognising their efforts.
In her vote of thanks, Dr Priyanka Gope began with a line from Feroza Begum’s iconic Nazrul Sangeet, “Ami Chirotore Dure Chole Jabo”. “If I did not sing even one line of Feroza Begum’s song, I would have felt terrible,” she said. She then thanked the Vice Chancellor, the Dean, the donor, Feroza Begum’s family, teachers, students, performers and everyone involved in organising the programme.
In his concluding remarks, Treasurer Professor M Jahangir Alam Chowdhury congratulated the scholarship recipients and announced plans for a two-day Nazrul convention in February as part of the year’s Nazrul celebrations.
The programme concluded with congratulations to the gold medal and scholarship recipients and a renewed commitment to preserving Feroza Begum’s musical legacy. Through music, memories, recognition and plans for future cultural initiatives, the event reaffirmed that Feroza Begum’s voice continues to live on in the cultural memory of Bangladesh.
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