One of the founding members of the pioneering Indian Bangla rock band ‘Moheener Ghoraguli’, and renowned songwriter, guitarist, and music connoisseur Tapas Bapi Das, who was battling lung cancer, passed away this morning.
He breathed his last at the SSKM Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, according to several media reports.
Moheener Ghoraguli, and through the band, Tapas, revolutionised Bangla music since 1974 with a unique amalgamation of baul, jazz, folk and rock music that was complemented with melodious, soulful sounds and meaningful lyrics. Tapas was one of the most highly revered artistes in West Bengal.
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He had been battling lung cancer for a while and was in its third stage, receiving chemotherapy. Artistes in both West Bengal and Bangladesh were raising funds for his treatment ever since the news of his illness broke in January, and the West Bengal government was taking care of his treatment.
A fundraising concert by 40 leading Bangladeshi artistes for his treatment was scheduled to take place on July 14 at the Liberation War Museum in Dhaka.
Born on September 22, 1954, in Kolkata, Tapas became one of the founding members of ‘Moheneer Ghoraguli’ in 1974 alongside its original lineup -- Gautam Chattopadhyay, Ranjon Ghoshal, Pradip Chatterjee, Biswanath Bishu Chattopadhyay, Tapesh Bandopadhyay and Abraham Mazumdar. This original line-up performed together till 1978.
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After the disintegration of the band, Tapas became the mastermind and mentor behind the next-generation Bangla band ‘Moheen Ekhon O Bondhura’ in 2015.
Tapas is credited as the co-lyricist, composer, and singer of many popular tracks of ‘Moheener Ghoraguli’ including "Haay, Bhalobasi," "Bheshe Ashey Kolkata," "Shudhijon Shono,” "Ayee Surey Bohudurey" and more.
Eventholic, the organizer of the scheduled fundraising concert in Bangladesh for the legendary artiste, posted on its official Facebook page: “Even though he lost his battle with cancer, he at least got to know about this initiative, and he expressed his joy when we first discussed this concert with him. We even signed some t-shirts by him last night.”
“A tribute concert will surely take place, as we really want to stand beside his wife, Sutapa Das, and details will be revealed after two days. The show must go on,” says the post.
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