Sabina: Pride and soul of the nation

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I may have exaggerated a little bit calling her 'soul'. Since Bangladesh was not the country she has been promoting for herself but for all of us, the description is not too wrong. Her songs provide a rhythm and music to our life. Her voice gave our modern songs a bigger dimension.
It is true that I get frustrated observing the kind of consistent perseverance of Hemanta Mukharji, Manna Dey, Lata Mungeshkor opposite to our own renowned voice artists. Hemanta sang even during the last days of his life, while age made it difficult for him to hold his breath, yet he continued as a passion, as profession.
They sacrificed many mundane luxuries or even normal chores in support or to excel their professional or artistic qualities. Contrary to this, many of our prominent and very prolific artists could not hold on to their professional characteristics persistently. Some of them stopped singing while they could sing well. Some switched to other jobs for a better living.
One great artist who made a debut as a musician as well, left singing arguing that all songs are copied. I believe she could have arranged of her own a prolonged stay had she intended, putting her energy and resources, but her talent is being wasted playing with small kids.
However, when these artists are at their fame, we observe their ostentatious life style but the irony is that many of them die as a destitute. This is very unfortunate for a nation and pathetic for a person who could have guarded his/her old age at least to a bigger extent, than we find them. How they induced themselves into this behaviour I am not in a position to explain but their erratic living practices could be assumed as being responsible for this outcome. As a national it is like a pride lost to me.
This is also possible that artists who provide great pride and identity for the nation, the system should provide a complete safeguard for these personalities. Our nation can afford it as it should think 'all our resources to be protected and upheld'.
M M HAQUE
Jeddah, K.S.A