Gan Samagra Vol. 1 by Rupam Islam [Hardcover]

Prominent contemporary Bengali fiction writer Pracheta Gupta has remarked on Rupam's songwriting, saying, “In modern Bengali music, Rupam is one of the few artists who has set his poetry, not merely his lyrics, to music. Rupam’s songs are as much to be heard as they are to be read as poetry. In words and phrases, he seeks to understand life and society in the way a true poet would.” The themes, language, and expression in Rupam’s songs are entirely his own. As a dedicated Bengali rocker, he has been able to convey that the depth, style, philosophy, and purpose of rock music are distinct. He effortlessly weaves his life experiences with his commitment to music—sometimes with exuberant, powerful vocals, and other times with a quiet, pain-filled voice. In every way, Rupam’s songs represent a highly significant strand in modern Bengali music. His lyrics and compositions pave an alternative path alongside the conventional practices of Bengali contemporary music, offering a new direction. Achieving this requires both poetic talent and a profound understanding of life.

The first volume of Rupam’s complete song collection begins by revisiting his youthful, unyielding desire to become an "Akashpanthi" (Sky-wanderer). Then, song by song, charaiveti (moving forward), each song calls forth the next. In this way, simplicity speaks alongside experience, creating an exchange, movement, and momentum. This is a new offering of joy from Rupam as a “songwriter.”