Prithwi Raj walked away from the tornado

Only a few days ago Prithwi Raj had told his friends that he may not live much longer. This young music composer, singer and lyricist was bursting with talent. What made him see death ahead?

At 10, Saturday night, Prithwi had entered his studio and set to work. His wife Naushin Khan had called him up several times around midnight, but he did not reply to her phone calls. As the night grew, they finally broke down the door of his Lalmatia studio, only to find him slumped inert in his chair.

He was taken to the emergency department of City Hospital in the capital city. At around 4:30 in the morning, the physicians declared him dead. He had suffered from a heart attack. He was 33.

Prithwi had recently been excited about a new venture. A song was to be launched jointly by Dhaka and Kolkata on the occasion of International Language Day. Popular artistes from both countries were to sing the song, to be launched in Bangladesh by ABC Radio and in India by Friend’s FM in Kolkata. Rema Bose, daughter of renowned India music maestro Acharya Jayanta Bose, created the song. Prithwi had long trained in classical music under Jayanta Bose.

Young artiste Syed Nafis said a few singers from Kolkata had already lent their voice to the song. Prithwi was supposed to work on it on Saturday night at his Jilapi Studio. He was also all set to work on music for a movie. He had worked for several filmmakers including Krishnendu Chattapadhaya, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, Samiul Islam and others.

Prithwi Raj had gone to study economics in India on an ICCR scholarship of the Indian government. He came into contact with many music masters during his stay there.

He had worked for nearly three years as a senior creative producer with ABC Radio and worked as a sound engineer too. He was one of the main hosts of Prothom Alo’s ‘Lux Cafe Live’. He composed the opening score for the programme too.

Prithwi Raj was full of dreams and was well-loved by all. Singer Samina Chowdhury lamented, “Why Prithwi, why so soon? You told me we would record the song soon, then why have you left so soon?”

In a state of shock, Bappa Majumdar said, “He was a talented singer and composer. This is a great loss.”

In an emotion-laden voice, Tanveer Alam Sajeeb said, “I entered his grave first and then laid him down. So many people remain alive. The one who was not supposed to go away, has left.”

Towards the beginning of last month Prithwi had written on Facebook, “I think of myself as a very good observer. I see whatever you see, I hear a little more than what you hear. It’s not that I intentionally see and hear things. But this is becoming quite difficult and painful nowadays. No one should remain in this tornado.”

Prithwi Raj walked away from the tornado.