Kabir Suman
Kabir Suman Bengali pronunciation: [kobiɾ ʃumon] (born Suman Chattopadhyay Bengali pronunciation: [ʃumon tʃɔʈːopad̪ʱːae̯]; 16 March 1949) is an Indian singer-songwriter, musician, music director, music composer, writer, actor, politician, and former journalist.
Kabir Suman | |
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Kabir Suman playing an organ | |
| Pronunciation | [kobiɾ ʃumon] |
| Born | Suman Chattopadhyay 16 March 1949 Cuttack, Odisha, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Manab Mitra |
| Alma mater | Jadavpur University |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
| Works | |
| Political party | All India Trinamool Congress |
| Spouse |
Sabina Yasmin (m. 2000) |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Nagarik Kabiyal, Gaanola |
| Origin | Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
| Genres |
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| Instrument(s) | |
| Discography | Full list |
| Labels |
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| Formerly of | Samatan, Nagarik |
| Writing career | |
| Pen name | Manab Mitra |
| Language | |
| Period | Modern |
| Genre | |
| Subject |
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| Notable works | Discovering the Other America, Sumanami, Alkhalla, Hoye Otha Gaan, Mukta Nicaragua |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
| In office 2009–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Sujan Chakraborty |
| Succeeded by | Sugata Bose |
| Constituency | Jadavpur |
| Website | sumanami |
From May 2009 to 2014, he was a member of parliament of India in the 15th Lok Sabha, having been elected from the Jadavpur constituency in Kolkata from All India Trinamool Congress.
He changed his name from Suman Chattopadhyay to Kabir Suman as he accepted Islam despite being a Hindu by birth. While explaining the reason of this religious transformation, he claimed his such move was to mark his protest against the killing of Christian missionary Graham Staines by a former member of Bajrang Dal. He shot to fame in the 1990s with Bengali albums such as Tomake Chai (I Want You) and Boshe Anko (Sit-and-Draw).