Rumi Ajnabi was born on 7th August, 1955 at Dewanpara, Jamalpur. Son of Fazlur Rahman Ajnabi, a poet and lyricist, and Zohura Khatun, he is the youngest of brother Didarul Alam Khurram and two sisters Hasna Zahan and Ferdous Rahman. Father Fazlur Rahman Ajnabi was a strident advocate of music – the performance of which was a taboo among Muslims during most of his life.
Rumi Ajnabi was a student of Jamalpur Zilla School and Asheq Mahmud College. He developed a passion for music from his childhood and was inspired by his father. He formally began studies in music in 1970, at the Surbani Lolitkala Niketon – the only school at the time – established by music teacher Shahidur Rahman.saju.
Later, he learned music in various genres under Sree Bhanu Das, Sree Amal sen, Abdul Latif, Prof. Pradeep Kanti Mojumder, Mohiuddin Sripuri and many others. In classical music, his initiation was from Ustad Abinash Goswami of Sherpur. He also undertook lessons from renowned music Maestros of Mymensingh Ushad Bijoy Krishna Bhattacharya. In 1975, he had lessons on classical music from renowned MusicianUshad Fazlul Haque in Dhaka.
In March, 1976, he enrolled himself as a classified singer in Bangladesh Television (BTV), after passing the voice audition; and in July this same year, he appeared for the first time in BTV when he presented a modern song. Sometime later, he became a regular singer of Bangladesh Betar (Radio).
It was hard for him to live permanently in Dhaka depending on his music career, so he returned to Jamalpur in 1978. Despite many odds, he pursued musical career. He returned to Dhaka in 1979, this time with an intention to find a small job or start a business, while continuing his musical aficionados. After fretting for two years in Dhaka, he landed a job at a packaging firm in Singapore in 1981. During this time, he performed some on-stage programmes. But as ill luck would have it, he had to return to Bangladesh after two years because of an accident he met while on the job. With a paltry sum, he started a business in Jamalpur. He married Rokeya Begum Dolly. He fought for eight years to save his physically impaired son. Business failure and debts dogged him.
Still, he was indomitable in music. His audio album on modern songs from the DISCO RECORDNG made its debut in 1987. He also continued his TV programmes while staying in Jamalpur. He attended a workshop in Dhaka in 1987, conducted by music maestro of the sub-continent Pandit Ajoy Chakravarty.
Rumi Ajnabi was appointed a music teacher at the Jamalpur Zilla Shilpakala Academy in 1994. He was also appointed a teacher in Bangladesh Shishu Academy in 1997. During this period, he received higher training on classical, Nazrul, Rabindra and folk songs organized by the Shilpakala Academy. The teachers in these courses included Khalid Hussain (Nazrul songeet), Rezwana Chowdhury Banya (Rabindra songeet), Dr. Mridul Kanti Chakravorty, Ajit Roy and Indramohan Raj Bangshi (folk songs). At the Nazrul Institute, he received special training from Sudhin Das, Sohrab Hassain and many others.
On classical music, Rumi Ajnabi received lessons under Gopal Dutt, Azad Rahman, Dr. Harun-or- Rashid and Ustad Yasin Khan.
Rumi Ajnabi established “Ajnabi Songeet Academy” in Jamalpur in 1994 in memory of his father Fazlur Rahman Ajnabi. Financial depression and outstanding loans compelled him to close down his business, and sell his own home to pay off debts. In June 2000, he came to settle in Dhaka in order to take up music as his only profession. To begin with, he worked as a teacher in “Satya Saha Sangeet Niketon” in Uttara for two years. In 2003, he resumed his “AJNABI SANGEET ACADEMY”in Uttara. The Commitment Product brought out his two albums on “Ay Juger Devdas” under his direction, CDs were brought out on Nazrul’s Dance Song “Natun Patar Nupur Bajiy” and a CD on “Rupkather Desh”.
Rumi Ajnabi himself has written many lyrics and composed numerous songs. His third album containing 10 songs was produced in 2008 by ATN Music “Kottay amar shamoray”.
Many of his talented students have become enlisted singers in radios and TV. While in Jamalpur, he headed as president many cultural organizations including “Saptarshi” “Fair Music” and “Lokoj”. Presently, he is a “Up grade” singer of BTV and an “A grade” singer in Bangladesh Betar.
His wife Rokeya Begum Dolly and his only daughter Rejwana Shrabon make his three-member family. Rumi Ajnabi seeks Doa from everybody for his continued success....................For more information anybody can contact with
RUMI AJNABI
Rd - 13. Hs -37 Sec - 4.
Uttara, Dhaka - 1230
MOBILE NO : 01715-405976
E-mail : ajnabi.gaan@gmail.com
TablaRaj Bangladesh always respect him
Stored By Sejuti Saha
Good job...
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