Ustad Amitabh Barua is a renowned musician of the subcontinent. He is a vocalist, composer, lyricist, essayist, story writer and novelist. However, he is best known as a musician. Recently, the officials of Ustad Amitabh-Paira Foundation handed over this rare photo of Ustadji to the Director of Bangladesh Betar Chittagong Regional Center, Mr. Shahin Akhtar, and the Sub-Regional Director, Mr. Tabbasum Haque. Ustadji’s daughter, Rabindra Sangeet artist Papia Barua, member of the Foundation, journalist Ratan Barua and Channel I star music artist Johnny Barua were also present at the time. The Amitabh Payra Foundation expressed special gratitude to the Regional Director and Sub-Regional Director for accepting the photo of Ustad Amitabh Barua. Ustad Amitabh Barua, a musician who dedicated his life to music, was born on December 13, 1926, in the traditional Mahamuni Pahartali village under Raozan Upazila of Chittagong district. Ustad Amitabh Barua is the eldest of two children of father Haladhar Barua and mother Bangabala Barua, and his only younger sister is Deepti Barua. The cultural heritage of Mahamuni Pahartali inspired him to pursue music. He was directly and indirectly inspired by the eminent music scholars Mohan Chandra Barua and Jethamshai Munindralal Barua of the same village. His gurus in classical music were Ustad Maqsud Ali Khan and Ustad Fazlul Haque. Ustad Amitabh Barua was employed as a music teacher at “Prachya Chandagitika” and “Shwashat Lalit Kala Academy” for a long time. He served with great devotion as the principal of the “Sangeet Parishad” and the “Surasaptaka Sangeet Vidyapeeth” established by the late Ustad Nirdavan Barua. Apart from Uchanga Sangeet, he was once quite popular as an artist of regional, folk and modern songs. On December 23, 1960, 12 of his songs were released on the first 6 gramophone records of the HMV company. He was associated as a lyricist and artist from the day the full-fledged station of Chittagong Betar Kendra was launched on December 7, 1962 until his death. He also participated in several programs at Chittagong Television Center. The regional song of Chittagong “Gura Bou Sayindhyakale Cherag Dito Gayle” written by him became very popular in the voice of artist Shyamsundar Vaishnav. Moreover, he was one of the members of the jury of the national media Betar and Television at that time. Among his disciples are Dilara Alo, Arefin Haque Alo, Kalyani Ghosh, Minti Pal, Manas Pal Chowdhury, Sultana Sharmin, Papia Ahmed, etc. Under the pseudonym Mahua, he once wrote many stories, poems, articles, and essays in various newspapers. Two poetry books titled “Prabhati” and “Bahnishikha”, a collection of songs named “Gitishataka”, and the biography of Ustad Jagdananda Barua’s father Mohan Chandra Barua “Gnantapas” are some of his notable books. Besides, novels titled “Galpa Terash Satattar”, “Pathey” and “Jharaful” were published serially in various dailies. During the lifetime of this indefatigable musician and literary saint, the Bangladesh Buddhist Culture Promotion Association awarded him the titles of “Gitashree” and “Sahitya Ratna”. Besides, Chattal Youth Square, Mahamuni Cultural Association, Mahamuni Tarun Sangha, Nazirhat Music Hall, Ramoni Mohan Smriti Sangsad, Raozan Sargam Music School,He was honored by various institutions. Ustad Amitabh Barua married Sabita Barua Payra, the granddaughter of Benimadhav Barua, the first “D-Lit” recipient in Asia, and the daughter of Babu Sunil Kanti Barua, a teacher, doctor and then member of Ghatchek village in Rangunia upazila, and Ashalata Barua, a housewife. Ustad Amitabh Barua and Sabita Barua Payra are the proud parents of 4 sons and 4 daughters. All of his sons and daughters are well-established in their respective fields. One of Ustad Amitabh Barua’s children, Anubhav Barua, who lives in France, is a UNESCO-listed tabla artist, and his daughter Papiya Barua is a regular Rabindra Sangeet artist on Bangladesh Television. On July 11, 2007, the great artist, culture lover, composer and lyricist Ustad Amitabh Barua passed away.