I will never forget my birthday of 1977
Kumar Biswajit turned 57 on 5 June and this is the first time he celebrated his birthday without his mother. He speaks to Prothom Alo about his birthday amid the pandemic and birthdays of the past.
Happy birthday and how are you?
Thank you. The world isn’t well, so how can Biswajit be doing well? The world hasn’t seen such bad times ever, so celebrations really pale. Humans are social beings yet the World Health Organisation tells us to maintain social distance. You can’t hug virtually. Even in death, sons can’t go to their father or fathers to their sons. There is just tragic news all around, so naturally one can’t feel good.
So in that sense this birthday is a bit different.
I lost my mother in December and I am still grieving. This is my first birthday without my mother. If my mother was unwell now, I wouldn’t have even been able to take her to hospital. The very thought fills me with dread. So many people have lost their dear ones at this time and I pay my respects to their souls.
Who was the first to wish you on your birthday?
My wife Naima Sultana called me up from the US at midnight. Since then there have been endless phone calls, SMS and Facebook greetings. I am overwhelmed. All this love inspires me. I have received so much more than I have given. How will I repay this? I wish to live a little longer, to work a little longer.
So how are you feeling now, with all these good wishes and greetings?
I didn’t expect so much love in these times. Greetings have poured in from so many people, friends, relations, well-wishers, fans and followers. I am blessed.
Which birthday was your happiest?
I will never forget my birthday of 1977. I was planning on forming a band and really need a drum set. Back then you couldn’t rent drum sets or somehow manage one. On my birthday that year my father gave me a drum set. I will never forget how happy I was.
You sing playback for the movies, but you acted too. You appeared to an ad film. How come you didn’t continue?
I just did that under pressure. If fact I was even offered the role of a hero in the movies, but I managed avoid all that. I never really wanted to do any work off my track. I don’t have the quality for all that.
It is heard that you are doing your part in this coronavirus crisis. Can you tell us something about it?
I have done what I can within my capacity, but I want to do more. But I don’t want to publicise all that. But I want to offer my gratitude, love and respect to the frontline fighters in this struggle against the pandemic - the physicians, the nurses, the journalists, the law enforcement, the armed forces, the volunteers, the cleaners and various organisations. I salute them.