Published: 04:10 AM, 14 June 2025
Lyricist Mohini Chowdhury’s Profound Contribution to Bengali Musical Heritage Remains Unrecognized
Mohini Chowdhury is one of the towering composers we have forgotten about for the most part. His songs sparked the spirit and valour of Bangladeshi people during the glorious Liberation War of 1971 and the July Revolution 2024. Mohini Chowdhury’s songs have been a source of inspiration and courage for millions of people across Bangladesh and beyond.
“Muktir Mondiro Shopano Tole Koto Pran Holo Balidan, Likha Achhey Osru Jole” is one of the most celebrated songs that Mohini Chowdhury composed. He was a legendary lyricist who wrote the verses of hundreds of musical masterpieces in the history of Bengali cultural heritage. An English translation of the above song is as follows “Countless numbers of lives sacrificed on the altar of the temple for freedom are inscribed in tears.”
Mohini Chowdhury’s hundredth birth anniversary passed off quietly in 2020 with almost no ceremonious observance. Mohini Chowdhury was not so much honoured for his talent and meritocracy even during his lifetime. Creativity has never been on the list of priorities in Bangladeshi society. Mohini Chowdhury was born in Gopalganj on 5 September 1920. He and his family migrated to Calcutta while he was a student. His lyrical talent bloomed when he was a tender young man.
Mohini Chowdhury’s father Moti Lal Chowdhury was an employee in the Postal Department during the British colonial era. Mohini Chowdhury’s mother was Golap Kamini Devi. Mohini Chowdhury passed secondary school certificate exams and higher secondary certificate exams from Ripon School, Calcutta. He left academic studies in the middle of his graduate classes and inclined towards music. Mohini Chowdhury joined Calcutta GPO in 1940 but he held this job for eight years only.
Some of the songs written by Mohini Chowdhury are not acknowledged by musical companies. For this reason there are lots of Bengali songs composed by Mohini Chowdhury but listeners have no idea about Mohini Chowdhury’s explicit creative attachment with these songs. Ratan Kahar, another lyricist, came in the middle of confabulations for similar reasons a few years ago. Ratan Kahar wrote the famous Bengali song “Boro Loker Biti Lo Lomba Lomba Chul”.
Mohini Chowdhury started his professional career as a song writer back in 1943 with Gramophone Radio Company. Classic film star Uttam Kumar’s movie “Prithibi Amare Chay” was named after a song with the same title written by Mohini Chowdhury. This song was a box office super hit. Mohini Chowdhury’s son Digbijoy Chowdhury recalled that prominent singers like Salil Chowdhury and Gouri Prosonno Majumder used to touch Mohini Chowdhury’s feet to take his blessings. Esteemed singer Sachin Dev Burman was one of the key figures that inspired Mohini Chowdhury to keep up writing Bengali songs. “Ami Takdum Takdum Bajai Bangladesher Dhol” is another master stroke by Mohini Chowdhury.
Mohini Chowdhury dedicated his entire life for Bengali music. He passed away on 21 May 1987. Mohini Chowdhury resorted to his songs which were his own creations whenever life appeared to be troublesome to live on. Mohini Chowdhury never compromised with his values and principles under any circumstances. Unfortunately today’s generation knows nothing about Mohini Chowdhury and his creative prowess.
Music lovers who are aware of Mohini Chowdhury’s contribution to Bengali music expect the Bangladesh government to build up a monument at his hometown as homage to his memories. It's a matter of regret that none of the past governments accorded any recognition to Mohini Chowdhury in Bangladesh's history whereas there are institutions like Bangla Academy, Shilpakala Academy, Cultural Affairs Ministry and so on.
Dr. Jesmin Chowdhury is
Editor-in-Chief of
The Asian Age.
