Das, Samar (1929-2001)  musician and composer, was born on 10 December 1929 in a family of musicians at Nabadwip Basak Lane in old Dhaka. Originally, he got music lessons at home. In 1945, at the age of 16, Samar Das used to play flute at the Dhaka centre of All India Radio. He also played guitar and piano. In the fifties he joined the HMV gramophone company as a pianist. In 1966 he became the chief music director of the Cultural Academy of PIA, Karachi. In 1967 he joined Dhaka Radio as a music director.

Samar Das directed music for a number of films, including the Calcutta movie Lottery. He was also the music director of Mukh O Mukhosh (first film made in Dhaka), Asiya, Nabarun and Dhire Bahe Meghna.

During the war of liberation, Samar Das helped organise the swadhin bangla betar kendra and was its chief music director. He composed the music for a considerable number of patriotic songs including purba digante surya uthechhe, nongar tol tol, bhebo na ma go. He composed the music for the national anthem amar sonar bangla ami tomay bhalobasi (My Bengal of gold, I love you) as well as the music for the SAF Games held in Dhaka in 1985 and 1995. It is estimated that he composed the music for more than two thousand songs broadcast over radio and television.

Samar Das was the founder president of Sangeet Parishad. In recognition of his contribution to music, he was awarded many prizes, including the Ekushey Padak and the Swadhinata Padak. He died on 25 September 2001 and was buried at the Christian cemetery in Wari. [Sambaru Chandra Mohanta]