Rani Paul

Guwahati, June 5: Fans and followers of singer Rani Paul today thronged her house in Shillong to pay their last tributes.

Paul passed away yesterday at age 84 at Bethany Hospital in Shillong around 12.45pm. She will be cremated tomorrow.

Her daughter Monjula said the singer had suffered a heart attack.

During the 1940s, Paul’s rendition of Assamese songs on Calcutta station of All India radio enchanted thousands of listeners of then undivided Assam. Many people in the state still recall her songs like Jonbai dexote xajim gaon ekhoni and Karengor podulir bokul salot pori.

Born to a Khasi mother and Bengali father in Shillong, Paul is survived by her four daughters and a granddaughter.

In Calcutta, Paul met Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Purushuttam Das under whose guidance she learned more about singing and went on to occupy a special position in the hearts of the people.

Artistes like Kamal Narayan Choudhury, Dilip Sarma and Sudakshina Sarma were her inspirations. Sanula Company recorded her songs.

“During those days, when Calcutta witnessed the freedom movement, Second World War and communal riots, Paul could win the hearts of people by her. She made a valuable contribution to the culture of Assam,” said singer Loknath Goswami.

She married fellow singer Anukul Nath who was from Dudhnoi in Assam. With Nath, she sang some hit duets. But Nath died soon after marriage, and Paul returned to Shillong to start life anew. However, she discontinued singing and her voice was lost for many years.

But in 2004, under the initiative of artistes like Loknath Goswami, she was felicitated at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra for her contribution, thus introducing her to the new generation and reminding others of her golden voice.

During the last years of her life, Paul suffered from acute financial crisis.

She did not receive any artiste pension or financial assistance from the Assam government.