Category Archives: Music

Performance, South, 1921-1947

Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri’s maiden concert in Calcutta

Told by Pandit Shyamal Lahiri
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 7th April, 2017
Place Shyamal Lahiris Residence at Chandi Ghosh Road, Kudghat.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist, Son of Legendary Musician Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri
Tags C.M. Lahiri, Tarapada Chakraborty, Chinmoy Lahiri, Gadda-Ghasit, Bhowanipur, 1946, 1947, Suresh Chakraborty, Meera Chatterjee
Language Bengali

Pandit Shyamal Lahiri speaks :

Text version:

?? ??? ?????, ??? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????? ???? ??? ???????,  ?????? ?????????, ?? ??? ????, ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????

????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????

????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????, ???? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ????????? ????? ?? ?? ???????????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??, ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ?????, ???? ???????????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ??????, ?????????????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???, ?? ??? ??, ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????, ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????, ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???, ???? ???? ??????????? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??????, ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??????, ?? ????? ?????????? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ??  “?????? ???? ???  ???? ??????? ???? ????? ???? ???, ????? ??? ????, ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????, ??? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??????“

Vidushi Meera Bandopadhyay

???? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ????? ????????????? ??? ?? ???????  ?????, ??? ????? ????? ????? ??????, ??? ??? ???? ????????????? ???????????, ???? ????????????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????, ?? ???? ??? ???? ?????, ??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ?????, ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ???? ???, ??? ????????? ??? ?? ????, ?? ?? ????? ????, ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ????, ????? ???, ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????, ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ???, ????? ???????? ?????, ????? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??????????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????????? ?????, ?????,  ????????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????????? ????? ???? ??????????, ?????? ????? ??? ??????? ????, ?????????? ???, ?????????? ????????????? ???? ??? ???? ??,  ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????, ?????, ????? ?????? ?????????, ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ?????

?? ?????? ???? ???????? ????, ???

????, ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????

?????? ????

?? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ????

?? ????? ????? ?? ???, ?? ?????  ??????? ??? ??????? ??????????

Verbatim by:  Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

In those days in Bengal, there was Tarapada Chakraborty, who was a star artist of that time. So at that time, Bimala Prasad Babu…

-Kindly let us know the full name of Bimala Prasad Babu.

-Bimala Prasad Ray Chowdhury. He was a great singer of those days. It was at his home that the program was going on. He had addressed the entire audience that day and requested them not to leave the place after the program because a new artist is in Kolkata, and he wished everyone to listen to him sing.

Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri

So what happened here was that, father was known by the name of C M Lahiri, because back in Uttarpradesh he was still known by that name. Though at the University, people knew him just by CM, because there they know their professors by the short forms only. When the announcement was made, everyone was outside, and no one had any particular hurry to come back inside. Right after the performance of a stalwart, no one was kind of interested in listening to a new artist. At this moment, father said, “Please bear with me for five minutes, please come inside and sit. If you do not like my performance, you are always free to leave. I promise I won’t take more than five minutes to wrap up with my music.”

One or two people came inside, among whom, one was Shailen Chattopdahyay. His daughter was the first pupil of my father. She was called Meera Bandopadhyay then, who later became the renowned vocalist Vidushi Meera Chattopadhyay. So my father began performing, and slowly with time more people came inside to listen to him. In a few minutes, I noticed that almost all the audience had come back. Then, the situation became such that there were requests from the audience, which was very surprising. My father was very inclined towards Taana, and would do the Taanas in circles. For example, the Gadda Ghasit Taana,  , which literally means the sound of throwing a Gadda. There were other such phenomenon, and father started to speak to the audience about it in brief, which attracted them even more. Thus, right after this program, father had already gotten five pupils from Kolkata to give music lessons to. Among these five was Meera Chatterjee, the daughter of Shailen Chatterjee. There was also one by the name of Bitun from Howrah, Gobindalal Bose, Gobindalal Bandopadhyay and a few more to name. Then there was Minu Kaka, or Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty, who proposed to my father to teach him music. At that time, we used to live at Bhawanipore.

This incident took place near about 1948. 47?

I wasn’t even born in 1946, 47.

Prior to that?

And where was his house at that time?

There is the Ganja Park at Bhawanipore. Our house was right behind the Ganja Park.

Translated by: Ankana Das

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=je0UW6T1GNO99QPUmpH4DA&q=vidushi+meera+banerjee&oq=Vidushi+Meera&gs_l=img.1.0.0i24k1.3932418.3939036.0.3940964.15.13.1.1.2.0.191.1805.0j12.12.0….0…1c.1.64.img..1.13.1681…0j0i67k1j0i10k1j0i30k1.0.RN9TSqWebKk#imgrc=j9PhEjsNvBro1M:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pt.+Chinmoy+Lahiri&client=firefox-b&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CVCtfkMNEO6sIjjQnZnWxXZAvOYMoUIa74n0sqXx2dCoMz5Wjr3Rp6570LvjwKom-PmIQ98Vl3iE_16v0WMR-6nCIjyoSCdCdmdbFdkC8EY9e7UZK2KqZKhIJ5gyhQhrvifQRj17tRkrYqpkqEgmypfHZ0KgzPhF1V3kMHEPmaCoSCVaOvdGnrnvQEQnZWsGaRWOSKhIJu-PAqib4-YgRwzot76hOTtgqEglD3xWXeIT_1qxGPXu1GStiqmSoSCfRYxH7qcIiPESS3Mu03Lprq&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-mbKswbnbAhVbbn0KHfvpCIsQ9C96BAgBEBg&biw=1366&bih=631&dpr=1#imgrc=0J2Z1sV2QLzNgM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University
Performance, Riyaz / Practicing, South, 1921-1947, Listening

Remembering Laykari of Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri

Told by Pandit Shyamal Lahiri
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 7th April, 2017
Place Shyamal Lahiris Residence at Chandi Ghosh Road, Kudghat.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist, Son of Legendary Musician Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri
Tags Chinmoy Lahiri, Dhaka, Radio, Suresh Chandra Chakraborty, Ananda Bajar Patrika, Editor, Laykari, Tehai, Kheyal, Vistar, Dhrupadi Ang, Bol Bani, Deri Ang, Do Ang, Teen Ang, Char Ang, Accompaniment, Dilip Chandra Bedi, Palta, Gadda Ghasit Taan, Sapat, Terha Sapat, Choutha Sapat, 1941, 1942.
Language Bengali

Pandit Shyamal Lahiri speaks :

Verbatim:

??? ????, ??? ???? ?? ???? ?????, ?? ??, ?? ????? ???? ???, ???????, ?????? ?????? ???, ?????? ?????, ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????, ?? ???? ???? ?????????, ??? ????????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????????, ??????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????????, ??? ????? ?????????, ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ??????? ????? ????, ???? ???????, ???? ???? ???, ???? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????? ??????, ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????, ?? ???? ???? ???? ???????, ???? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ???? ????, ? ?? ??? ?? ?

????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???, ????? ????, ??????? ????, ?????  ?????? ?????? ???, ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?????  ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ????????? ?????? ???? ???????, ???? ??? ??????? ??????, ? ??? ????, ? ??? ????, ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????, ????? ????? ????? ??? ?????, ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????, ??? ????? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ‘???? ?? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ???????, ??? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ????????? ???, ???? ??????? ??? ???, ????? ??? ??????? ?????, ???? ??????  ???  ??????, ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????, ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ?????, ??????? ????? ???? ?????, ??? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ?????, ??? ?????, ??? ?????, ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ‘??’ ? ?????, ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????, ??? ???? ??????  ???, ??  ??? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???????, ???? ???? ?? ???? ????, ?? ?????? ????? ???, ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ????, ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???, ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???????? ????? ?????

Pt. Dilip Chandra Vedi

???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????????????? ?????? ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????, ?????? ??????, ????? ?????? ?????? ??????, ???? ??????? ???? ?????? ???, ???? ????? ????? ?????, ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ????? ??, ???? ????? ????? ?? ??????, ???? ????? ???? ???, ????? ???? ??? ?????, ?????? ???????

????? ????? ?????, ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ???? ?????, ??? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ???????

Verbatim by:  Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

He was very young at that time- maybe 25 or 26 years old. He used to live at Dhumdhumar at Dhaka, where he used to work at the Radio also. At that time, the Chief Producer was Suresh Chandra Chakraborty, whose son later became the editor for Ananda Bazar Patrika. Suresh Babu had become a very important figure in the career of my father. He had helped my father with a lot of things including taking him to venues, organizing events for him, etc. It happened once that a person belittled my father’s Laykari and said that it was not a big deal to perform.

So he asked the audience to pick up their hands one by one in any random matra and he would take tehai, instantly from that specific matra. I still am getting Goosebumps thinking about that.

Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri

Everyone was ready to entrap him, and was raising their hands now and then and father kept on doing the Tehai accordingly. So this raged on like a storm for a long time. At that time, in our Khayal and also Bangladeshi Khayal, there was  a mid part, right after the Bistar, it was rarely to be found on that time,   there was bolbani  in Dhrupadi style. I remember him doing it with Bol Bani (words), which together comprised of the Laykari. This too comprised of a number of Tehai and a number of improvisation Laykari in derhigun, dwigun, and chow gun. He attempted several of these Laykari and used to reach at the ‘Shom’ in an incredible way.   This whole procedure was a unique one. You can’t imagine, I can still see it in front of my eyes while talking about it. He would do it with such ease. Players who were not accustomed with playing with him never got a chance in these times. So this was his style of singing. And later in life, he himself started to change and alter his style. During this time, people used to say that he acquired this style from Dilip Chandra Bedi.  I have never met Dilip Chandra Bedi, though I have listened to his records and seen him at places. I remembered that he too did a variety of  Palta. My father also worked with Palta and he also did a lot of Taana too. For example, he did the Gadda Ghashit Taana, Tehara Sapat, Choukha Sapat, etc. All these experiments and innovations that father used to do were his brain child.

Translated by: Ankana Das

Picture Courtesy: Google

http://profsaxena.com/book-6-avenues-to-beauty/

http://www.sangeeta.info/gurus.php

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

 

Note: Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri was born in 1916. His son pt. Shyamal Lahiri is telling about the incidents when Chinmoy Lahiri was 25 or 26 years old. So the year should be around 1941-42. – Editor

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University
Performance, South, Accompaniment, 1948-1960

Ustad  Ali Akbar and Pandit Shamta Prasad On Stage at Tansen Music Conference

Told by Pt.  Santosh Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Pt.  Santosh Banerjee’s  Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player, Formerly attached to the  Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University as a faculty member. One of the prime disciples of Ustad Dabir Khan.
Tags Ali Akbar Khan, Allauddin Khan, Guru Bhai, Nara, Tansen Music Conference, Tabla, Dhamar, Gat, Shamta Prasad, Teen Taal, Drut, 1950’S, 1960’S
Language Bengali

Pt. Santosh Banerjee Speaks :

 

Text version:

??? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???, ??? ??????????????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???, ?? ????????? ???  ????? ???, ????? ????? ??? ??????, (??)  ??? ??? ???? ?????? (???? ??? ??????? ???? ??????), ???? ???? ???, ????????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??,

 

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan

??? ???? ???? ????? ????????, ?? ????? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??????  ????? ??????? ?? ????  ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???????, ????? ??? ?????????, ???? ???? ??? ????, ?? ?????, ?????? ???, ???? ???,???? ??? ???? ??????, ????? ??? ?????? ????? ????, ??? ( ?????), ??? ??? ???, ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?????, ?? ?? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ???????? ???, ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????????? ? ???????, ???? ????????? ?????? ?????????????

??? ??? ???????????

?????? ??????, ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????????, ???????????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????, ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??, ??? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??, ????? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??? ?????, ???? ???????? ???????

??? ?? ???? ?? (???) ?

?????, ?? ???????

Verbatim by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

Let me say a few words about Ali Akbar Khan, who was practically my Gurubhai. This was because; Ustad Allauddin Khan had wanted Ali Kabar khan to tie his Naara with Allauddin Khan’s own Guru’s family. So he kept Ali Akbar Khan for a few days at my Guru Dabir Khan’s place, who hailed from that family, so that the first Taalim came from him. That connection makes him my Guru Bhai.

He loves me very much, talks with me for a couple of hours whenever we meet, and urges me to take sweets and other food, a very cordial relation we share. I have also taken my wife to meet him, and he had welcomed her with great warmth, chatted with us for two or three hours.

Anyway, Ali Akbar Khan was a person who was oblivious to whoever was playing with him, or whatever he was playing.

Pt.Shamta Prasad

It happened so at the Tanen Music conference, that Ali Akbar Khan had started to play with Pandit Shamta Prasad on the table. He completed the Alaap and started a Gat in Dhamaar at a very Vilambit laya. Shamta Prasad had to sit idle, playing only a theka and nothing else. Ali Akbar Khan, who always played with his head down, watched for some time, and then, with a smile, increased the Laya a little and went into Teen Taal, and asked Pt.  Pt. Shamta Prasad to play. I have been witness to this, this being in the 1960s.

Translation by: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=MbMPW8yXOoSy9QO6jy8&q=ali+akbar+khan&oq=ali+akbar+&gs_l=img.1.0.0l10.3410873.3416488.0.3417904.10.9.0.1.1.0.204.1278.0j7j1.8.0….0…1c.1.64.img..1.9.1286…0i67k1j35i39k1j0i10k1j0i30k1.0.qyX_fs0W8VQ#imgdii=k5X7XxDb1mqveM:&imgrc=GS1NvC7WHAxnSM:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=jMAPW_TQNJa-9QP5hon4Cw&q=pt+shamta+prasad&oq=pt+shamta+prasad&gs_l=img.3…591589.600977.0.601432.18.17.1.0.0.0.170.2285.0j16.16.0….0…1c.1.64.img..1.6.940…0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i30k1j0i24k1.0.pFqM3HGQZdI#imgrc=TTRDKr0LloYkkM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Riyaz / Practicing, Green Rooms, South, 1948-1960

Pandit Ravi Shankar Listening to Ustad Vilayat Khan Practicing in Green Room

Told by Professor Santosh Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Pt.  Santosh Banerjee’s  Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player, Formerly attached to the  Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University as a faculty member. One of the prime disciples of Ustad Dabir Khan.
Tags Green Room, Riyaz, Vilayat Khan, Binkar, Volunteer, Tansen Music Conference, Ravi Shankar, 1954, 1955, Bharati Hall
Language Bengali

Pt.  Santosh Banerjee Speaks :

Text version:

??? ?? ?????????? ????????? ??? ?? ???????? ?????, ???? ???? ????????? ??? ??????? ?????, ?? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????,  ??? ?????? ????????? ????? ?????, ????  ???? ?????????? ??? ?????, ???????? ??? ????? ????, ?? ????????? ????? ??????, ??????? ?? ????, ?? ?????????, ?? ???, ?? ???? ?????????, ???? ???  ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ??, ???? ?????? ??? ?????, ?????? ????, ?????????, ???? ??????, ??? ??? ??? ???, ??? ?????? ??????, ??? ?????? ??????, ???? ?????? ?????????? ???????, ???? ??????? ???? ???? ??????? ???????, ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ???????, ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ?? ?????????? ???????????? ???? ?? ?? ( ?????) ?? ????? ????????

?????????? ???? ???? ???? ?????

?? ?? ????????? ??? ?????? ??? ???, ??? ??? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ????????? ???? ???? ??????, ?? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ?????????, ????? ????? ??????? ??? ?????????? ?? ???????? ??? ????? ????????? ?? ???????? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ????????? ?????? ?? ?????????, ?? ??????, ?????, ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????

??? ???????? ??? ?????? ?????

?? ??- ?? ?????

?? ????????? ????? ??? ????

?? ????? ?????? ???

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Riyaz / Practicing, Teaching-Learning, 1948-1960

Remembering Pt. Kashinath Chatterjee—A Stalwart of Vocal Music of Kolkata during 1950’s

Told by Pt. Santosh Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Pt.  Santosh Banerjee’s  Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata.
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player, Formerly attached to the  Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University as a faculty member. One of the prime disciples of Ustad Dabir Khan.
Tags Vocal, Kashinath Chattopadhyay, Raag, Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, Tarapada Chakrabarty, Chinmoy Lahiri, Chanu Ganguly, Taan, 1951, Alam Bajar
Language Bengali

Pt.  Santosh Banerjee Speaks :

 

Text Version:

vocal music ?????? ???, ??????  vocal music ?? ?????  ??????????????  ??????? ?????????????,  ?????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ???, ?????? ???? ??????? ????????????? ????? ??? ?????? ???, ????? ?????? ??? ????? – ????????? ?????? ??? ???????? (????????? ????), ??? ??? ?????? ????????? ?????? ??????  ?????? ??? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?????  ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????, ???? ???? ??????, ??????? ????,  ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ????? ?????, ???????, ???? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ???, ???????? ???, ????? ???? ?? ???? ???, ???? ???????, ???? ???????? ??? ???, ????? ??????, ????????? ???  ??????? ?????, ??? ????? ????? ?????, ????? ?, ?? ???????? ????? ??????, ???? ???? composition ????, ??? ????? ?, ?? ????? ??????, ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????, ??? ????, ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ????, ????? ????? ?????? ????? ???, ?? ????? ????? ????, ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???, ????? ??? ??? ????, ?? ??? ???, ??? ???????? ???????, ???? ???? ?????

?? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???  ??? ?????? ?????? ?????,

? ????? ????? ??????

?? ????????

?? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????, ????? ?? competition ? ??????,

??? ???? ???? ?????, ??? ?? ??? ???????  ??????? ??????????

???, ??? ??? ????

??? ????? ???? ????

?? ???? ????? ?????? ????

???? ????? ??? ??? ?????, ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ???, ??? ?????????  ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, South, Accompaniment, 1948-1960

Pt. Lakshan Bhattacharyay-The Talent Undiscovered

Told by Pt.  Santosh Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Santosh Banerjee’s  Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player, Formerly attached to the  Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University as a faculty member. One of the prime disciples of Ustad Dabir Khan.
Tags Lakkhan Bhattacharya, Sitar, Harish Park, Bhawanipore Police Station, Kalighat, Firoz Khan, Mukherjee Para Lane, Tuning, Gat, Tabla, Sam, Vilambit, Avartan, 1948
Language Bengali

Santosh Banerjee Speaks :

 

Verbatim:

????? ?????????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?????, ??? ????? ?????????????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??????  ????? ???????????? ???,  ???? ??????? ?????? ?????? ??? ????, ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????, ???? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????? ??? ,  ????? ??? ?????,  ????? ???????? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ????? ????????? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????, ????? ?????, ???, ?????????, ????? ???? ???????? ??????,

??? ??????,??? ????? ??????? ???????

???? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ???????

??? ??? ??? ????? ??, ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??????, ?? ??????? ???  ?????? ?????????, ? ??????? ?????? ????? ????

?????? ?????? ????

?? ???? ????? ???????

???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????

?? ?? ?? ????????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???  ??????  ??????, ?????????? ???? ?????, ????? ???????,  ???? ??? ?????, ????? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ???? ????, ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????, ??? ???? ????????

???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?????  ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???????, ????? ?? ???????, ??? ???? ??????? ????? ????  ???? ?? ????, ??? ???? ???

??? ???????? ????

??? ?? ????????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???,  ??? ?????? ?????, ???? ??????

Pt. Lakkhan Bhattacharya

?? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?????????, ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ????? ?????????? ????? ???????, ????? ?????, ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????, ?????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????, ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????, ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ?????, ??? ?????  ????? ???? ??????? ????, ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??, ???? ???????? ??? ??? ????  ?? ?????, ??? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ( ???? ???? ???), ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???, ????? ????? ????????? ??? ?? ?????? ????,  ?? ?????? ????, ??? ??? ?????? ????, ???? ???????, ????????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ( ??? ???????)  ??????? ????! ???? ???? ??????, ????? ????????, ????? ??? ????? ????? ????, ??? ????? ?????? ???? ????? ????, ??????? ??????? ???? ??????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????

???????? ??? ?????? ???? ????

??? ???, ??? ?????? ???? ???, ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????

???? ?? ????

?? – ?? ????

?? ???????????? ??? ????

????

Verbatim by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

Lakshan Bhattacharyay was a renowned Sitarist of that time, and produced many good students. None of them, however, made their mark later on. Lakshan Bhattacharya was addicted to a number of substances like Opium. Some common acquaintances often played host to him and kept him as a guest in their homes. But that could not draw him away from the addiction. Later he was known to have resorted to venom abuse from snakes. After that, he would not wake up for a week. A man like this, however, was outstanding while playing his instrument.

Once he was lying in Harish Park after having consumed some substance, and the police had taken him away as a drunkard to Bhowanipore Police Station. The Officer in Charge came and asked, “What is the matter?” And was told that he had been picked up as an inebriated person. But the OC recognised him and spoke to him in familiar terms, addressing him as ‘Lakshan-da’. “ Whom have you picked up?” he said, and took him home in a car. Many a time I have seen him lying on the side of the road, when he was staying nearby. He stayed near Kalighat, Kali Lane or thereabouts, at someone’s house or at his sister’s place. He died there too. This I know, but he was also an erudite man, and a great Sitarist.

I’ll tell you about one incident that happened at the house of one of his students. Lakshan-da was to play, and accompanied on the table by Firoze Khan. We, being young people, 20 or 21 years of age, had assembled there. This was at a small house on Mukherjee para lane in Kalighat in 1947 or 1948.Anyway, it used to take about an hour for Lakshan-da to tune his instrument. As he used to do,  hetwiddled a matchbox, smoked a Beedi with a Mirzab on his finger, till the tuning was complete.All the while Firoze Kahn waited, rubbing his hands on ice, looking at his tabla. LakshanBhattacharyay started a Gat in Vilambit, with his head down, sitting upright, holding his sitar, not even looking Firoze Kahn in the face. One Avartan passed, two Avartans, then three and four, the Tabla was silent. After sometime, Khan Saheb found an opening and started to accompany. As he did so, Lakshanbabu put aside his sitar and embraced him, “Oh Ustad, you’ve found it at last!” Then he played for another three hours. I came home at three or four in the morning, and was rebuked for it, that I would come to nothing in life. This is the incident I remember, cannot remember what he had played though.

 

Translation by: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Pt Anindya Banerjee, Renowned Sarod Exponent 

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, Central, 1961-1974

Begum Akhtar at the Palace of the Rajah of Panchkot

Told by Pt. Santosh Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Pt. Santosh Banerjee’s  Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Sitar Player, Formerly a Member of Faculty at the Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University. One of the prime disciples of Ustad Dabir Khan.
Tags Panchkot, Begum Akhtar, Bhubaneswari Prasad Sing Deo, Agra, Kashipur, Loudon Street, 1964, 1965
Language Bengali

Pt. Santosh Banerjee Speaks :

Text version:

??? ?? ??? ??, ???? ????? ????? ????????? ????, ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ??????

????? ??? ?? ???? ?????

????? ??? ?? ?????????? ??????? ??? ????

(???? ????? ??? ????????, ???? ???? ????????, ????????? ?????? , ???? ??????? ??????? ????)

?? ??? ????? ??? ???, ??? ?????? ??? ?????, ?? ??? ???????? ?????, ?????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ???????, ????? ???????? ?????? ?????

???? ????? [????-??]
????????, ??? ??? ????, ????? ???, ??? ???, ????? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????, ??? ??? ?????, ?????? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??? , ????, ??????? ?????? ????? ????????? ?? ??-???? ????? ???

??? ?????? ???? ?

??? ????? ????????? ???????. ?????? ?/? ????? ???????? ????? ?????. ??? ???? ??? ??????, ?? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????, ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??, ?? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????, ??? ????? ???, ? ?????? ??? ?? (???? ?????)?

??? ???????? ??? ?????? ???? ?

? ???…

40’s ?

?? ?? 40’s ??? ???, ??? 64, ?? 67, 68 ????

Verbatim by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

It happened like this, my student the Raja of Panchkot expressed his interest to listen to Begum Akhtar. Her songs were always being played. This Raja was named Bhubneswari Prasad Singdeo. They had their estate at the village of Kashipur, Panchkot near Agra where their palaces still stand. Anyway, I said I will try and asked Ustadji.

Palace of Panchkote

Ustadji took me to Broadway Hotel where Begum Akhter was staying for a performance. She gladly consented to go and asked about the time. She asked us to send a car at ten p.m. She arrived punctually at the raja’s residence at 2/1 Loudon Street and performed about fifteen of her songs. The only audience consisted of myself, the Raja, Ustadji and a couple of other people. It was a wonderful performance and this was how I got acquainted with Begum Akhtar. She used to take a very costly and aromatic jarda which was heard to come by. I used to consume betel leaf a lot and also used this jarda in a very small amount.  The time frame is around 1964 or 67-68.

Translation by:  Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=1AIRW-GFC4THrQHd77KYBg&q=begum+akhtar&oq=begum+akhtar&gs_l=img.3..0l10.2028468.2031215.0.2031626.12.8.0.4.4.0.186.1260.0j8.8.0….0…1c.1.64.img..0.12.1312…0i67k1.0.iKS7St7eY4Y#imgrc=MDjqBoLkyHORqM:

http://www.indianrajputs.com/view/panchkot

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.

 

South, Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947, Central, Listening

Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya and his disciples

 

Told by Swapna Mukherji
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 2nd March 2017
Place 60/2/7 Kabi Bharati Sarani, Lake Road. Kolkata- 700029
About the speaker Swapna Mukherji is a well-known Sitar Player. She is the daughter as well as a disciple of Sri Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay [disciple of Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya].  She was a graded Staff artist of All India Radio, served both in Raipur and Calcutta Station of All India Radio.
Tags Lakshman Bhattacharya, Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay, Sukumar Basu, Aparesh Chatterjee, Badal Das, Sitar, Sarod, 1921, 2012, Moody, All India Radio, Broadcast, Garstin Place, Programme, Chetla Conference, Shyambazar,
Language Bengali

Swapna Mukherji speaks:

 

Verbatim:

     Shri Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay

?????????? ??, ????…. ??????? ???????????, ???? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?????, ???? ???????? ???????????? ??? ??-??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????, ????? ?????????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ??, ???? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????? ????-? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????

?? ????????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????, ???? ???? ?????, ???? ?????????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ?????, ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??????????? ????? ?????? ??, ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ????

?????? ?????????, ??????? ?????, ??? ?? ???? ????????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ????, ? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??????, ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????, -‘???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??’? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ‘????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???????, ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ????’- ??? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ?????? ????????? ???????

??’? ??’? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ????????? ?????, ????? ?????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??, ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???, ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????, ??? ????? ??? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ??????, ????, ???? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??’? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???????

?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ?????? ????? ???? ????, ???????????? ?????, ???????????? ??? ??????????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ??-??????? ?????? ????? ????? ???, ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ??……???? ????? ????? ?????? ????

???? ?? ????? ???? ?????, -‘?? ??? ??? ?? ??’?

??? ??? ?? ??’? – ‘???? ???? ????, ??????? ?????!’

?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???, ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Translation:

My father, Amiyabhushan Chattopadhyay, was one of Lakshmanda’s, that is, Lakshman Bhattacharya’s favourite students. I remember the names of a few others because they used to visit my father. For instance, there was Sukumar Basu. There was someone called Aparesh Chattrjee – I had only heard of him, never seen him. There was someone called Badal Das who could play the sitar and the sarod. He was born in 1921 and passed away in 2012.

Shri Lakshman Bhattacharya

Lakshman da was an incredible artist. He was very moody and somewhat apathetic towards worldly interests. He was dead against self-publicity and avoided it at all costs. He had a tendency of disappearing, so his students would take turns to make sure that he stayed put.

 In those days, programmes on the radio used to be broadcast live. My father used to keep an eye on him. Our house was very close to the Akashbani Bhavan. My father would bring him to our house and make him stay there. He would get angry and say, “Why are you following me like this? Don’t keep me under surveillance!” Father would change the subject and say, “We are so fortunate to ahve found a guru like you. The more time we can spend with you, the better it is for us.” And he would make him perform for the radio.

It had happened a few times that Lakkhan da had a programme, but he was nowhere to be found. This happened a few times during the Chetla conference. These are all stories I’ve heard from father. They’d find him at the crematorium. He used to go and sit there. He seemed indifferent about the world. Maybe he liked it att he creamatorium, that’s why he sat there. He was extremely genial and pleasant. He called my grandmother ‘mother’, and referred to my mother as ‘bouma’ or daughter-in-law. He had a tender disposition. I’ve never heard from father anything about his rage. He was like this, but he was also very, very moody. The students would take turns to keep an eye on him.

Anyway, such measures did not prove preventive in the end. He passed away when he was just 39. He was unmarried. He was at his brother’s house in Shyambazar. I don’t know the exact address. He passed away in that house. His nephew came to our house, dressed in mourning. My father was the first person he informed. Father was shocked when he saw him and asked, “What has happened?” Then he said, “Uncle passed away. He had fever for a couple of days!” He paased away at a very young age. I wonder what would have happened had he lived. He had attained such fame at such an young age that even now his name is heard in certain corners. For instance, you have come to ask me about him!

Translated by: Sarbajaya Bhattacharya

 Picture Courtesy:

Smt. Swapna Mukherji, Renowned Sitarist and graded Staff artist of AIR

Note: Shri Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay is the father of Smt. Swapna Mukherji – Editor

 

Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University

 

 

Performance, South, 1921-1947, Listening

The Impact still Fresh in Memory—Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya at Jadavpur Engineering College

Told by Swapna Mukherji
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 2nd March 2017
Place 60/2/7 Kabi Bharati Sarani, Lake Road. Kolkata- 700029
About the speaker Swapna Mukherji is a well-known Sitar Player. She is the daughter as well as a disciple of Sri Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay [disciple of Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya].  She was a graded Staff artist of All India Radio, served both in Raipur and Calcutta Station of All India Radio.
Tags Lakshman Bhattacharya, Jadavpur Engineering College, 1938 – 40, melody, grammar
Language Bengali

Swapna Mukherji speaks:

Verbatim:

?? ??? ???? ??????? ????????????? ?????? ??????????? ??????? ???????????????

??????

????? ?? ????! ???? ?????? ??? ???????????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???…?? ?? – ?? (???) ???? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ???????? –‘????? ??????? ????????? (????????????) ???? ???? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ??-?????, ????? ??????? ??? ????????-  ‘????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????

 

???? ??-????? ??? ? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?????????? ???, ???? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ??????????

 

Vebatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music,Rabindra Bharati University.

 

South, Teaching-Learning, 1948-1960

On Teaching of Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya

Told by Swapna Mukherji
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 2nd March 2017
Place 60/2/7 Kabi Bharati Sarani, Lake Road. Kolkata- 700029
About the speaker Swapna Mukherji is a well-known Sitar Player. She is the daughter as well as a disciple of Sri Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay [disciple of Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya].  She was a graded Staff artist of All India Radio, served both in Raipur and Calcutta Station of All India Radio.
Tags Lakshman Bhattacharya, moody, Amjad Ali Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan, Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay, Raga, Puriya,
Language Bengali

Swapna Mukherji speaks:

Verbatim:

????????? ????? ???? ?????, ???? ????? ???’? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ??????, ???? ?????? ??????????

(????????? ?????) ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???, ?????? ??? ??, ???,????? ?????? ????????? ?????, ?? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???……?? ????

????? ??? ????

????? ?????, ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?? ??????????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????, ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ????

???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???? ‘??? ??? ?????? ??? ??’? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????, ?? ???? ???? ????? ??-‘ ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ????’? ‘?????? ?????????’- ???? ???? ?????, ‘?????? ?????????, ????????? ????? ???????????? ??? ???????’? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ????

?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???????

 

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

 

Note: Late Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay is the father of Smt. Swapna Mukherji – Editor

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music,Rabindra Bharati University.