Indian singer and researcher Moushumi Bhowmik paid tribute to Baul practitioner Sunil Karmakar at a memorial event in Mymensingh, reflecting on his life, music and spiritual legacy.

Speaking at the programme titled “Sunil Aloy Baul Sur” on April 24 at the Town Hall premises, she said, “Sunil da’s extraordinary voice captivated us all. He was born blind, yet he saw the world through sound. I experienced that inner vision from the very first day I met him.”

The event, which ran from afternoon until midnight, marked Bhowmik’s return to Mymensingh after nearly two decades. She recalled first visiting the region in 2006 while researching themes of longing in Bengali folk music, during which she encountered the Baul artiste.

“I came not as a performer, but as a researcher,” she said, describing her first visit to his home and the impact of hearing his voice even before meeting him.

Bhowmik also shared memories of recording sessions, noting that she preserved not only his songs but also ambient sounds from those moments, including pauses and conversations.

Reflecting on his philosophy, she said, “People like Sunil da were neither Hindu nor Muslim—they were true seekers. In these difficult times, we need to learn openness from them.”

The programme also featured discussions on the Baul artiste’s life and work by local cultural researchers and officials. Organisers described him as a humanist figure whose music carried messages of peace and spiritual reflection.

The event concluded with musical tributes by Baul performers and disciples from across the country.

During the programme, Bhowmik performed a few lines from “Pubete Uday-er Bhanu,” a song she learned from him, drawing an emotional response from the audience.