Fakir Abdul Karim Shah was one of the two mentors of the 'Lalon Mentor Fellowship Project' (1996-98) arranged by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The other mentor of the fellowship project was late Fakir Mahin Shah. On Fakir Abdul Karim Shah, renowned Lalon researcher Professor Abul Ahsan Choudhury said, "At present he is the only authentic Lalon singer in the country."

Karim's father was a palagaan singer. And from his boyhood he became a devotee of music. Initially he was a palagaan singer. Later he became a believer of Baul cult and subsequently achieved Khelafat, the authority to spread the belief of the cult. He does not have any academic knowledge on music, rather he has acquired knowledge on music as rituals from his gurus. During rendition he plays his ektara and dugi and moves the audience.

"To me music is devotion," continues Karim Shah, "In fact, it's not my self, but my soul sings, where my murshid (Lord) lives."

The 87-year old Fakir, talking about Lalon songs, says, "About 2,000 Baul songs remain in my memory. These are not only Kalams (Lalon devotees call Lalon's verses as Kalams), but also Baul songs composed by other mystic poets. There are many who intentionally or out of ignorance, claim all these songs as Lalon's. In fact, Lalon songs are well composed and have unique mélange of tune and lyric. And the verses have such spontaneity that if the melody or word is distorted, the composition is interrupted. And tune of my ektara and rhythm of my dugi don't go well with the distorted lyric of the Kalams."

Fakir Abdul Karim Shah says that after the death of the great Lalon devotees of his generation, Lalon music is in deep trouble. In an emotional voice, he says, "Many local and foreign scholars come to me for research purposes. A few days back American scholar Dr Carol Salmon came. I appreciate their interest. But, I don't see any positive initiatives for preservation of the authentic tune of the Kalams. It's true that transcription service of radio and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has preserved many Kalams rendered by Fakirs Moksed Ali Shah, Fakir Khodaboksha Shah, Fakir Elahi Shah, Fakir Jhoru Shah, Laily Fakirani and others. A few of my Kalams rendered by me are also preserved there. But, I like to ask the researchers what they will do after my death? That's why I think they should take initiative to preserve all the Kalams I can render."

He has heard Lalon songs performed in the metros and Lalon's shrine. However, as he says, "Very few singers, such as Farida Parveen and Fakir Bazlu Shah manage to render Kalams authentically."

Ministry of Cultural Affairs gives aid to 25 Bauls. Interestingly Fakir Abdul Karim Shah, a guru of the Lalon Mentor Fellowship Project, does not get any government allowance. He said, "Most of the true Lalon devotees do not get any government allowance.

In fact, the project is highly politicised. And many of those who get government grant are not Bauls at all."