He belonged to the class of bards, called Kabiyals, who improvised songs in poetic contests evolved in Calcutta and its outskirts in the 18th and the 19th centuries,[2] and also became known for his composition of songs in the Maizbhandari musical tradition.
Shil got his breakthrough in 1945 when he defeated Sheikh Gumani in a song contest arranged by the Nikhil Bharat Banga Sahitya Sammelan in Calcutta.
In the contest, they improvised verses and hurled strophes and antistrophes at each other.
These songs had been published in nine volumes titled Ashekmala, Shantibhandar, Muktir Darbar, Nure Duniya, Jibansathi, Satyadarpan, Bhandare Maula, Manab Bandhu and Eshke Sirajia.
[2] Shil wrote notable songs like "Ishkul Khuilachhe Re Maula".