Another star has fallen from the cultural arena of Bangladesh. Kaushey Padak-winning Rabindra Sangeet artist Papia Sarwar has passed away. She died on the morning of December 12 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka. She had had cancer for the past three years.
Papiya Sarwar was born in Barisal. She studied in the Department of Zoology at Dhaka University. In 1973, she went to India on a scholarship from the Indian government to pursue a degree in Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan.
Born in Barisal on November 21, 1952, Papia showed a deep passion for Rabindra Sangeet from a young age. She joined Chayana in sixth grade and later enrolled in the Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts. She became a listed artist for radio and television in 1967.
A zoology graduate from Dhaka University, she pursued a degree in Rabindra Sangeet at Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan, in 1973, under a scholarship from the Indian government. She was the first student from independent Bangladesh to receive this scholarship.
Before that, she trained under Nahidul Haque, Sanjida Khatun and Zahidi Rahim at Chayana. Her debut audio album, ‘Papia Sarwar’, was released in 1982.
Over her illustrious career, she earned immense admiration for her distinctive voice and rendition of Rabindra Sangeet.
She also achieved notable success in modern Bangla music. The song ‘Nai Telephone Naire Pion Naire Telegram’ brought her widespread popularity among Bangla music lovers.
Papia Sarwar received the Rabindra Award from the Bangla Academy in 2013 and a fellowship in 2015. She was awarded the Kaushey Padak in 2021.