By Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
086
Probably this was the day after Doljatra in 1996 when we had an electrifying musical evening arranged ‘gharoa’ as part of celebration of ‘Holi’ when two maestros – Pt. Rabi Chakraborty, the vocalist and Pt. Monilal Nag on sitar, with Pt. Shankha Chatterjee on the tabla swelled the handful of audience with Kajri, Dadra and Chaiti. Krishna Bhajan was also a splendid rendition that evening. Similarly, next year in 1997, the Violin Brothers – Debshankar and Jyotishankar rendered a mixer of Thumri, Bhajan and light classical songs. These were our rituals every year during ‘Holi’ and Festival Dinner which attracted large invitees for a great get together.
By the time a decade was gone since 1988, I being the founder secretary of the organization had differences with few and unfortunately I had left and created another organization in late 90s in the name and style of – East Calcutta Music Festival, registered as a Society – with a new slogan – ‘Music for Peace’. Now more than 25 years, we have been carrying on with our objectives. Yes, due to fund shrinkage, we may not have been able to hold our annual festival every year, yet whenever, we got fund, we have arranged, even in a smaller way to enhance our objectives.
Thus quite a few more youngsters have since been promoted through our platform and quite a few renowned artistes also performed periodically. When we had our 3rd festival under ECMC in 1999 at Bidyut Bhaban Mancha, Pt. Indranil Bhattacharya on sitar played Kaushiki Kanada in vilambit gat and Drut teental and a Thumri accompanied on the Tabla by Pt. Gobinda Bose, the packed auditorium was enthralled. This program was concluded with a vocal recital by Sipra Bose and Ust. Sabir Khan was on the tabla. Incidentally, we have had a very cordial friendship with Gobinda and Sipra which was built on years of togetherness. They used to throng our house quite late in the night and music used to flow in as all of us continued to enjoy each others company. Late after midnight, when the dinner was served, none of us was serious on food but wished to be swept away in the tune of Kafi, Piloo or Darbari. Gobinda da and Sipra Boudi normally used to leave early in the morning, yes, only after serving us the lovely paan and jorda she used to enjoy. Those were the memories with which we have lived as Sipra Boudi left us for her heavenly abode quite unexpectedly in 2008. A great vocalist tutored by none other than Lt. Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri and later talim under Begum Akhtar to fine tune her thumri gayoki. An important part of the original ‘Mahisasuromordini’ with the song ‘Ogo amar agomoni..’ while her Bengali rendition – ‘Jomuna ki bolte pare … ‘ are still vibrating in the ears of music lovers. Much later in 2014, we dedicated our Annual Festival held at Rabindra Okakura Bhaban, in memory of Sipra Bose when Govinda da was the Chief Guest.
But the show had to go on.
In 2006, another incident took place which also has been very unnerving for me. It was Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty on stage on the second evening and before the curtain went up, I told him to start his recital as I would come back seeing my mother who was then in a critical condition. Ajoy started his program and I left the venue ( Laban Hrad Mancha ), under the care of others and joined my ailing mother. She was by then gasping for life. I had to arrange oxygen etc with my family members but could not save my mother. She breathed her last while Ajoy Chakraborty was still on stage. I naturally could not go back and things were managed somehow. These few hours will never erase from the memory, when personal love & commitment was much prior than musical passion.
How can I forget the most melodious rendition of Raga Kirwani by Ust. Shahid Pervez on sitar in 2010 ? He was accompanied on the tabla by Pt. Kumar Bose. It was such an eventful item, seldom listened to, that the tenderness of tune remained absolutely imbedded in one’s soul for a long time. Both Kumar Bose and Shahid Bhai were at their very best mood for which the music went to its peak. This has been one of the finest renditions as far as I am concerned.
Meanwhile, I was intrigued to differentiate amongst Ragas. I have been listening music by then for 30 years seriously yet could not identify a Raga when played or sung unless I am helped. Sipra Boudi in one such night session had briefed me few morning and evening/night ragas. While, today, I can perhaps identify morning ragas like Bhairabi, Sindhu Bhairabi, Basant Mukhari, Jaunpuri, Jogiya, Todi, Lalt, and evening/night ragas like, Kafi/ Misra Kafi, Kirwani, Patdeep, Bhimpalsai, Kaushiki Kanada, Piloo, Malkauns, Darbari, Jayjayanti et all. Years of listening and loving so dearly, music has ultimately conceded to me some tangible result !
Time flows. For us also time never stopped. The idea to re-start a Music Festival in Eastern part of Kolkata has really never been fulfilled. Firstly, the audience in this part is still not tuned to classical music at large. Secondly, now there are so many avenues of entertainment elsewhere that classical music has slowly but surely taken a back seat. Thirdly, lack of financial support towards classical music has put many organizers to shut down. In our childhood, Tansen Sangeet Sanmelon, Sadarang Sangeet Sanmelon, Park Circus Sangeet Mela, Suresh Sangeet Sanmelon, Uttor Kolkata Sangeet Samaroho ( used to be held in Deshbandhu Park) are all closed down. Only a couple of Music Conferences are still on. This is sad that due to paucity of program, talented musicians now look towards West where in US, Canada, Europe there are lucrative venues for many musicians who enjoy and share their music with audience of those places. Sadly, we are the losers.
Indian Classical Music has been so traditional and rich in heritage, it can not be suppressed for long. Some how, there has to be a renaissance of Indian Classical Music and big Corporate will surely come out to patronize this very soulful art of our lives. I have shared my personal association in a very small way as I could neither play any instrument nor could I sing a song. Yet love for the music has brought me very close to music and some exceptional musicians for which I am eternally indebted to the All Mighty. Let us look forward to that momentous hour when Indian Classical Music will again be the top attraction of music connoisseurs.
Concluded..
