Category Archives: Year

South, Accompaniment, 1975-2000

Hearing-Aid Volume Matters

Told by Jyoti Goho
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 21st February 2017
Place ITC Sangeet Research Academy, 1, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tollygunge, Kolkata – 700040
About the speaker Jyoti Goho is a well-known Harmonium player of Indian Classical Music. He is a Musician Faculty in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Tags 1985, Sangeet Research Academy, Nisar Hussain Khan, Bhuwalka award, A.T. Kanan, Harmonium, Jyoti Goho, Tanpura, Rashid khan, Tabla, Aslam khan, Gulam Akbar Khan, Zulfiqar Khan
Language Bengali

Jyoti Goho speaks:

Verbatim:

??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ??.??.?.(Sangeet Research Academy)?? ??????? (????? ???) ???? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ????, ?? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???????? ?????????? ????? ???? ?? ???(????)??????????-? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????

    Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan

?? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????, ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??-??(???)???? ???? ??? ?????????? ??? ???? ????? ???????, ????? ?????? ?????, ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????, ?????, ???? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??, ???????? ??? ???? ????? ????????(????? ????? ???)??? ??? ???? ????? ?????, ??? ??? (???? ??? ??)? ??????, ?? ???? ???? ????????? ?????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??????, ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????????, ??? ?????? (?????) ??! ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? – ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ??????, ?????? ???? ??? ???, ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ?? ????-???????? ?????, ???? ????? ????? ???????? ??? ??? ????? ?????,???!?? ?? ???? ???? ????, ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??, ?? ??? ???? ????????? ?? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?? ??, ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?????, ?????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????, ???? ???? ???? ???????(??????)-????? ??? ???? ??????, ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????, ?????! ?? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ????????? ???? ???, ???? ????? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ???? (????? ????? ????)???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???, ???? ????? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ???? ?????, ??????????? ??? ???? ??????(????? ???), ?? ??? (?????? ????)?????? ????????, ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???? ????????? ???????? ???? (??????)????? ???????? ?????? ????? ????? ?????

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

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Translation:

It was the year 1985. Nisar Hussain Khan, the grandfather of Rashid Khan was the Guru of S. R. A. (Sangeet Research Academy). NisarHussain Khan was to be awarded the Bhuwalka Award, and it was decided that he would also sing at the Award Ceremony. My Guru encouraged me to play the Harmonium with him, and I agreed.

Nisar Hussain Khan used to sit on a high stool while performing, because he couldn’t sit with his legs folded owing to his old age. He was running on his 83rd or 84th year at that time. The program started and he asked me on stage to play the note for tuning other instrument accordingly. Thus I began to follow him with the Harmonium, suddenly he asked me to play it softly, said, “Why are you playing it so loud? Play it softly.” So I tuned the Hamonium to play it softly. He again interrupted and said. “No no. You are playing it too loud. Slow it down…” Amidst this, the Tanpura was also tuned and Nisar Khan started singing. In between songs, he would ask me to play softer. It was not that I was playing it very loud, but still he kept on insisting that I play it softly. He was renowned musician after all and also the Grandfather of Rashid… and I too was a bit intimidated.

At one point, I was playing the harmonium so low, that I myself was unable to hear it. But even then, he found it to be too loud. At the end of the program, my Guruji, who happened to be a South Indian, came to me and scolded me in broken Bangla, complaining that my harmonium was not audible at all. He said, “Are you mad or what! What were you playing up there? We couldn’t even hear you play the harmonium!” I told him that it was Nisar Khan, who himself had asked me to play it softly. Guruji said, “Yes, I had noticed that he was instructing you about something, but couldn’t make it what he was asking for…”

Ustad Gulam Akbar Khan

Later the Tabla player, Aslam Khan revealed to us that Nisar Hussain Khan had his hearing aid on high volume. His son in law was Gulam Akhbar Khan and his son was Julfikar, who had told the Tabla player about this. Since the volume of the hearing aid was pitched very high on the side where I was sitting, NisarHussain Khan always felt that I was being too loud. Later, I had also told Rashid about this incident, and he too assured me that this had happened a lot of times in the past as well. Rashid also told me that at home, when Nisar Khan would have his morning tea, he gets very irritated at the crows screeching outside, though the noise wasn’t that unbearable. He would also get angry at the crows and ask others to scare them off.

Translated by: Ankana Das

 Picture Courtesy: Google

http://www.parrikar.org/vpl/?page_id=460

http://www.itcsra.org/WednesdayRecital.aspx?WedId=18

Edited & Designed: Dr.Suranjita Paul

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

 

South, Others, 1975-2000

Efforts of Deploying non-routine Powers in Influencing Musicians

 

Told by Jyoti Goho
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 21st February 2017
Place ITC Sangeet Research Academy, 1, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tollygunge, Kolkata – 700040
About the speaker Jyoti Goho is a well-known Harmonium player of Indian Classical Music. He is a Musician Faculty in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Tags Panditji, Bhimsen Joshi, Shiv kumar Sharma, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Anada Gopal Bandyapadhyay, Nazrul Manch, Kolkata Sradhyanjali, 1995, Harmonium, Grand Hotel, Whole Night Programme, Accompany, Fees, Payment
Language Bengali

Jyoti Goho speaks:

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

 

North, Performance, Riyaz / Practicing, 1921-1947, Listening

A.T. KANAN SHARING STAGE WITH BADE GHULAM ALI AND RAVI SHANKAR

Told by Jyoti Goho
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 21st February 2017
Place ITC Sangeet Research Academy, 1, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tollygunge ,Kolkata – 700040
About the speaker Jyoti Goho is a well-known Harmonium player of Indian Classical Music. He is a Musician Faculty in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Tags A.T.Kanan,  Kolkata, 20C Nilmani Mitra Street, Darjipara, 1944, 1945, Boubazar, Paying Guest, Pathuriyaghata Street, Manmatha Ghosh, Bade Gulam Ali Khan, Ravi Shankar, Whole Night Programme, Tabla Player, Malkaunsh, Backstage, Organiser, Taan
Language Bengali

Jyoti Goho speaks:

Throughout  this recording Jyoti Goho has referred to his Guru Pandit A.T.Kanan as Guruji – Editor

Verbatim:

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

                            Pt. A.T.Kanan

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

         Pathuriyaghata Ghosh Mansion

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

(?????? ????? ??????? ??) – ?????, ????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?????, ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? – ?? ???? ?? ????! ??? ???? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ????!! ?????! ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? (??? ???)? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? (?????)? ????????? ??? ???? ????????? ???? ????????? ??????? (???????? ?????) ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ????????? ??? ???, ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ??????, ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ????? (??????? ?????) ???? ?? ?? ?????? ???????????, ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ??, ?????? ??, ??? ???? ????? ????? ?? ??????? (?????????) ?????- ????? ????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????, ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ????? (??????? ??) ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?????, ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??, ????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????? – ?????, ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????????, ???? ?? ?????? ????? (Deny) ?????, ????? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??, ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ??????????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ??????, ???? ?????, (???? ?????) ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??, ???? ?????, ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ??????, ???? ???? ??????? ??? ??, ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ?????????, ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????, ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??, ??? ????? ?????? ??-?? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ???????, ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ???  ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ????? ?????????? ????? ? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ????  ?? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ???? – ????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ? ?????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? (???????? ????) ??! ???? ???? ????, ?? ??? ????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ?????????? ?? (Organizer) ??????, ?? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??, ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? (????? ??? ??? ?????) ????? ??? ???????? (????????) ????? ??? ??? ????, ????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????????

Verbatim by:Dr.Suranjita Paul

 Translation:

When Gurujifirst came to Kolkata, he stayed in a house as a paying guest which was in 20C, NilmaniMitra Street, close to Darjipara. He was there for few days.  It was on his initial days in Kolkata,probably during 1944-45.  Then he moved from that place to someone’s house in Bowbazar.  The landlord of that house was a lover of music and dance and often visited at classical concerts.  So when that man had a discussion about keeping Guruji as paying guest, the man did not like the fact of having an atmosphere of music in his own house, the fact that someone will sing and he will be seen, though the owner himself visited concerts. So, Gurujiknew that the man did not like to have an atmosphere of music in his house.

The gentleman had asked Guruji if he was into music. Then Guruji had replied  “No, no I don’t do all that”  otherwise the man would not had let him stay. So finally the man had let Guruji stay. Now, Guruji had to practice or he atleast need to something, how to do that now? So, when the gentleman used to go out of the house, in that house there was water pump, so when the pump used to start then a musical sound used to come out of it, at that time Guruji used to practice a bit. He used to practice completely in a naked voice. Other than that he could not practice at all. In the meantime when it was going on like that, one fine day the gentleman told Guruji that there was a whole night concert, “Would you like to go with me?” Guruji said, “Yes”. Then he took him to the concert.

That was Pathuriaghata Street, house of ManmathaNathGhosh. The concert was held there. First was Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab, then was Ravi Shankarji. Both of them did it half-half, whole. At first was Bade Ghulam Ali’s vocal. Everybody was sitting in the hall room wearing Punjabi and dhoti, on those days mug dhoti, and all were lover of music. Guruji was sitting beside the gentleman.  When Ghulam Ali Khansahab’s performance was over suddenly Guruji was saying to the gentleman, and before that he noticed that ManmathNathBabu, who happens to be the owner of that place was coming and talking to the gentleman few times. Guruji thought that Manmath nath Babu must be a friend of the gentleman.

  Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan

(Guruji asked) – “Well, will you please let me sing here?  He is a great friend of yours. Could you please kindly request him to let me sing here?”  The gentleman said – “You will sing here. What are you saying?  Shut up! .Ghulam Ali Khansahab has sung here and you will sing after that. Yes, don’t speak at all. You have come with me so just quietly be seated.” The gentleman got angry and was shouting. In the meantime Manmatha Nath babu was passing that place. Manmatha Nath babu stood and enquired “What’s the matter? What happened?”  Meanwhile, some interview was going on and few people from the audience had gone out to have some tea. The gentleman said “Look! This boy is just desperate. He is constantly saying that he will sing. He has never listened to songs, nothing, now he is saying that he will sing”. ManmathaNathbabu said “Does he want to sing? Alright, he can sing but only 10 minutes. People are having tea now. Let him sing for 10 minutes. What’s the problem? But not more than 10 minutes, Ravi Shankarji will sit after that. Guruji said, “ Yes, 10 minutes will be enough”. He agreed.  Now, the accompanists who played with Ghulam Ali Khansahab, all of them denied.  They said that they don’t know him and what they would play. They said “ Nahi, nahi, hum log nahi bajayenge”. All of them were denying. So a tabla player from the same para who came to see the concert and well known to the gentleman was being told to accompany with him. He was told, “Play with him, he is saying he will sing and all” . Only a tanpura was put in sync, there was no other instrument, a tanpura and a tabla. He sang the Malkauns which he had heard from Abdul Karim Khan sahab. He completed it within 10 minutes. As soon as he finished, all people were extremely, not only when he finished rather when he had begun then only within 2- 1 minute people started coming in with their tea cups and sat quietly. And audience of those days were quite socialist. They were sitting and quietly listening. And after listening they started developing a curiosity “Where did he come from? What is the matter? Such a great voice”.  People started going in front of the stage and started asking him, “What is your father’s name?.Guruji’s father ‘s name was quite known to the people on those days.  Audience said, “Oh, you are his son!” Ghulam Ali Khan sahab was on backstage . Ghulam Ali Khan asked the organizer to bring the person in front of him whoever was singing.  He did not see Guruji then. Then Guruji went in front of him. Ghulam Ali Khan praised Guruji and said “Your voice is very nice and your taans are very clean. You will do well.” He said all that.

This is wonderful incident that he showed the courge to sing after Ghulam Ali Khansab’s performance. And after Guruji’s performance the gentleman was quite proud. The gentleman said “Yes. He lives in my house.” Actually, everybody was enquiring “Who brought him? From where?”. The gentleman felt very proud.

 Translated by: Snigdha Mishra

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://somethingspecialbyadity.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/pathuriaghata-ghosh-mansioncalcutta/

http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/the-beauty-of-patiala-gharana/article22621825.ece

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvsNLiltHQA

Edited & Designed: Dr.Suranjita Paul

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

South, Music, 1948-1960

Begum Akhtar visiting A.Kanan and musical-meeting with some contemporary Musicians

Told By Jyoti Goho
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 21st February 2017
Place ITC Sangeet Research Academy, 1, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tollygunge, Kolkata – 700040
About the speaker Jyoti Goho is a well-known Harmonium player of Indian Classical Music. He is a Musician Faculty in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Tags  Begum Aktar, Khyal, Mallikarjun Mansur, Bhimsen Joshi, Hazra, Maharastra Niwas, Bakul Bagan, Kolkata, Pakrasi Harmonium, Sangeet Research Academy, Hall, Samar Saha, Jyoti Goho, 1974
Language Bengali

Jyoti Goho speaks:

 

Throughout  this recording Jyoti Goho has referred to his Guru Pandit A.T.Kanan as Guruji – Editor

Text version:

?? ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???????? ????? ???????????? ?????, ?????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?????????? ????? ??? ????, ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ????, ????? ?????? ??, ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ????????????? ?? ???? ????? ?????, ????? ????? ???? ??????????? ???? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ???????????? ????? ??? ??? ??????, ?????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???????? ???? ????????? ???? ???????????? ????????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???, ??? ?? ???????? ???????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???????-? ?????? ??????, ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????????? ????????? ???(?????? ????)???, ?????????? ??? ???????????? ??? ??? ????? ??, ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ????????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??.??.? (Sangeet Research Academy) ?? ??????.??.? –?? ???? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ???, ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? (?????? ????) ?? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???? –? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????????? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????, ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???????, ?? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?? ??, ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?????

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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

 

Performance, South, 1948-1960, Listening

Begum Akhtar’s never ending thirst to learn

Told by Jyoti Goho
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 21st February 2017
Place ITC Sangeet Research Academy, 1, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road, Tollygunge, Kolkata – 700040
About the speaker Jyoti Goho is a well-known Harmonium player  of Indian Classical Music. He is a Musician Faculty in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.
Tags Station Director, All India Radio, A.T.Kanan, Khamaj Thumri, Begum Aktar, Dipali Nag, Sangeet Research Academy, Recording, Studio, Thumri, Kheyal, Amir Khan, Bade Gulam Ali Khan, Rewaz, Talim, Bakul Bagan, Bhawanipur, 1950
Language Bengali

Jyoti Goho speaks:

Text version:

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

[?????? ???????: ??? ?????? ??. ??. ? (SRA) ???????-?? ???? ?????? ????? ????????? ??????? ??? ??? [same] ??? (??? ???)]

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

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

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

A. Throughout this recording Jyoti Goho has referred to his Guru Pandit A.T. Kanan as Guruji. B. This happened after the whole night concert at Mahajati Sadan in 1950.   – Editor

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

 

Performance, South, Listening, 1975-2000

Discovering Pandit Ravi Shankar as a Brilliant Dhrupad Singer

Told by Sri Rantideb Maitra
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 4th March,2017
Place Sri Rantideb Maitra’s Residence, Madur Daho, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Music Collector and Music Connoisseur
Tags Ravi Shankar, Dhrupad, Chowtaal Chautaal, Tansen, Trina Purohit, Sharbari Roy Chowdhury, Robin Pal, Standing Note, Ballygunj, Satya Kinkar Bandyopadhyay, Gharana, Bishnupur, Talim, Allauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Khokababu, Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury, Dabir Khan, Khandar Baan, Hari Narayan Mukhopadhyay, Benaras, 1998,1999
Language English

Sri Rantideb Maitra speaks :

 

Text Version:

Raviji sitting in front of a portrait of Guru Allauddin.

This is about Pandit Ravi Shankar’s singing, it’s outstanding. So I first heard Ravi Shankar singing a full-fledged Dhrupad, full-fledged you know, Chowtal with a Pakhawaj sangat…num tum, alap full-fledged dhrupad sang Tansen  Dhrupad songs, and that was Trina Purohit’s house. She had lot of tape recordings from Sarbari Roy Chowdhury and I also heard something. I was really engrossed with the style of his singing…so beautiful and so tuneful. And the Dhrupad exactly as I knew Dhrupad to be you know that the swiping meends and long standing notes, khandani Dhrupad. So I was amazed that how come Ravi Shankar, if he had been a singer he could have been a very famous singer if he had stop played the Sitar.  So I was always thinking that from whom he had learnedhis Dhrupad. What was his talim? So his secretary Rabin Pal was very close to me at a point of time and whenever Ravi Shankar came here he used to stay at that LalaSriram’s house in Ballygung and just full of people gate crashing, try to get his photograph, autograph or getting their LP record signed by him so it was very difficult to talk to him, always surrounded by so many people. I also tried to get him once but I could not enter. Even in spite of the fact that Rabin Pal was with me. Because he was having some press conference or something so I was asking Rabin Palconstantly that please ask Panditji from whom he learnt his Dhrupad.

I said ‘did you ask him’?

– No…

– Did you ask him?

– No.

– Why?

– No, actually I don’t know much about the Dhrupad. If Panditji ask me why you are asking me about Dhrupad, what do you know about Dhrupad then I will not been able to answer this thing that thing. Why don’t you ask that?

I said ‘how can I ask? He comes to Calcutta so less so’.

He said ‘ok go to your chamber’. He came to my chamber and he just dialed a number and said ‘Panditji, some person wants to talk to you and he is a great friend of mine’ and just handed over the phone to me. I was so nervous you know but the first thing that came to my mind I spoke. I said ‘Panditji I am a great admirer of your Dhrupad singing.

He burst out laughing…Ha Ha Ha. This is the first time I’m being complimented for my singing.

I said ‘it’s very true Panditji. I get something from the tape recorder.

– Oh I see.

– I am very fond of Dhrupad…very much you know.

– Whom you heard? Whose Dhrupad have you heard?

I said ‘mostly I listen to Satyakinkar Bandyapadhyay’s Dhrupad.

– Oh….he was such a giant and even after listen to him you’re finding my song up to date or to the mark?

I said ‘very much. It is of the same style.

– Oh….really.

Then I asked him that ‘I have a question to ask you Panditji that how is your style of singing so similar to Satyakinkar babu’s style of singing? It is very important.

What he said opened my eyes. What I thought he said. He said that ‘look why our singing styles would be different you tell me’?

I said, ‘No, but you belong to a different gharana. He is from Vishnupur.

– Well. No, that’s not a point. He said, ‘You have heard me singing Tansen’s song. He had also must be singing Tansen’s song.

I said, yes that’s true.

– Then if both of us had get proper talim , then both of us style must be the same. Because both of us singing Tansen that means both us have got the proper talim. So it should be different?

Then I pressurized him, ‘please do tell me from where?

He was so evasive. He said ‘No I learnt from Babaji’.

I said ‘no, it is not possible. I have heard Ali Akbar Khan sahab’s singing and it got nothing to do with your style. He only sings num tum tum and all sorts of things. I also heard Allauddin Khan’s some snatches of his songs…they got nothing, those are just some alap based Dhrupad like Dagars. But you are singing full-fledged Dhrupad.

– No…actually I must have learned something from Khokababu. Khokababu means Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury. I must have learnt.

I said, ‘No, because unfortunately or fortunately I heard Khokababu’s singing also’. I said, ‘No it is not similar to your style of singing. It is more like KhadarBani style; it is more like Dabir Khan style. It is not.

– Oh I see. So you have heard Dabir Khan.

I said yes one or two Dabir Khan.

– Ok …then I must have you see I was in Benaras, so you have heard about Hari Narayan Mukhopadhyay?

He was you know taking me down you know to a place where I cannot reach.  Hari Narayan Mukhopadhyay, yes I have heard about him but there is no recording of Hari Narayan Mukhopadhyay.

Yes that is exactly the point.  Then he was very satisfied. I must have you know during my younger days I heard Hari Narayan babu’s Dhrupad so much that this style must have gone into me and must be sing Hari Narayan Mukhopadhyay’s style.

Then I just gave up.  I understood that he was not going to really divulge. So, ‘thank you Panditji. My Pranaam. So there we ended.

– Time?

– That must be again 1998-99.

– 1998-99.  The chamber you called…

– Ezra street Kolkata.

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Picture Courtesy: Google

http://www.kavitachhibber.com/main/main.jsp?id=ravi_shankar

Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, South, Teaching-Learning, 1975-2000, After 2000

Unveiling The Exceptional Proficiency of Sri Subodh Ranjan Dey

Told by Sri Rantideb Maitra
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 4th March,2017
Place Sri Rantideb Maitra’s Residence, Madur Daho, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Music Collector and Music Connoisseur
Tags Subodh Ranjan Dey, Vivekananda Society, Dhrupad, Raga, Ragini, Jhilroad, 1980,S, Rabindranath Tagore, Dani Babu, Lalit Mohan Mukhopadhyay,  Ram Kishan Mishra, Benaras, Khayal, Nabadwip Brojobasi, Kirtan, Dhuliya Malhar, Ustad, Chowtal,Chautaal,  Jhaptaal, Dhamar, Bandish, Rajvijay Kanada, Nat Kamod, Harmonium, Neelaksha Gupta,1990;s, 2005, 2006
Language English

Sri Rantideb Maitra speaks :

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Music Allied, Production & Archiving, 1975-2000

Restorations and archiving of Indubala’s belongings—Rantideb Maitra Recalls

Told by Sri Rantideb Maitra
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 4th March,2017
Place Sri Rantideb Maitra’s Residence, Madur Daho, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Music Collector and Music Connoisseur
Tags Bijoy Nandi, Tabla, Pakhawaj, Accompanist, Indubala, Angurbala, Tawaif, 1930,s, Horimoti, Dhrupad,Tabla, Pakhawaj, Indubala, Beadon Street, Sonagachi, Harmonium, Gramaphone Records, Maharaja of Mysore, Riyaz, 1990’s
Language English

Sri Rantideb Maitra speaks :

Verbatim:

It is courtesy Bijoy Nandi, the pakhawaj player and the table player, that I came to know more about Indubala, famous Indubala, famous Angurbala and the great Tawaifs of who were living by 1930,s, whom Bijoy Nandi accompanied on Tabla, not Pakhawaj, He accompanied Horimoti on Pakhawaj, Horimoti was also a very very great Dhrupad singer.

Record of Miss Indubala

Now once he told me that look that many household belongings of Indubala is being sold out. So if you are interested you can go and have a look.I said please take me there. He took me to indubala’s house and what I saw is that…

  • Where was that house?
  • That was also in Beadon Street and that is also one part of Sonagachi. It’s called something else but its okay, it was a part of the overall, it’s called Garanpara, or something like that, its still there, the house is still there. I have been there three four months back to take some pictures. Now what I saw is that Indubala’s room was full of books. Stacked with books and books and books of various subjects you know, mostly History, Bengali novels, not English, but books of every variety. She was a ferocious reader, and there was the Harmonium, there was the Tabla, there was a Gramophone machine, stacks of Gramophone records, and lots of small size diaries. I said what are these? They said that she used to write diaries on a daily basis. Let me look, I saw that at least twenty-eight or thirty years of diaries stacked somewhere. I asked what are you going to do with these diaries?
  • Ki korbo? (what to do)
  • At a price?
  • Naturally at a price. So I offered them some price and I purchased all the diaries, Indubala’s.
Indubala Devi

So I purchased whatever pictures she had and because she was a meticulous collector of all her programme sheets, and her contracts with H.M.V and her contracts with Maharaja of Mysore, everything she preserved in a beautiful manner, so instead of, those were going to the kabariwalas I thought that I will be slightly better than a kabariwala, and purchased them also. So that was a great acquisition, and there after I read through her diaries and found what a great person she was, and her reading habits and her music habits, how she used to do her riyaz, from reading her diaries. I intend to publish it some day like a autobiography or some sort of things with her pictures, am working on that, and this is how I came into the diaries of Indubala’sthrough this Bijoy Nandi.

  • And it must be in late 1980’s?
  • No, it is mid 1990’s. Long time after she died.

 

Verbatim: RajeswaryGanguly Banerjee

 Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=indubala+devi&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg:CfkoUko0PaJuIjiQY7CtGXiVf7Y5_1H04O74Vbd2TxbQ0-ehRjnXIch1c9lRx93KNFCd4ZqHeuFT-GeFnsCMU1lrerSoSCZBjsK0ZeJV_1EZlmiR6eq-7yKhIJtjn8fTg7vhUR7KziCu6pMKgqEglt3ZPFtDT56BHO0oGYh5QJjioSCVGOdchyHVz2EZtLaVxdIGLcKhIJVHH3co0UJ3gRwZ5mOizBNpUqEglmod64VP4Z4RHkCwgjIO3tqSoSCWewIxTWWt6tEYtW2-BPg129&tbo=u&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimm5idx_HaAhXHuo8KHWxIBowQ9C96BAgBEBs&biw=1440&bih=826&dpr=1#imgrc=-ShSSjQ9om48MM:

https://www.google.co.in/search?biw=1440&bih=826&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=FDTvWrSyA4flvATAjaSoCw&q=records+of+Indubala&oq=records+of+Indubala&gs_l=img.3…404609.420160.0.420638.32.27.0.1.1.0.232.3062.0j12j4.16.0….0…1c.1.64.img..17.12.2068.0..0j35i39k1j0i24k1j0i67k1j0i5i30k1.0.GIxo6ao4hzc#imgdii=mDhRHVdmxbZa9M:&imgrc=LLIhac490poQfM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

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

                 

North, Accompaniment, 1975-2000

In Search of Bijoy Nandi-The Eminent Pakhawaj Accompanist of Horimoti, Dani Babu Indubala and Others

Told by Sri Rantideb Maitra
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 4th March,2017
Place Sri Rantideb Maitra’s Residence, Madur Daho, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Music Collector and Music Connoisseur
Tags 1980’s, Pakhawaj, Accompanist, Rajiv Lochan Dey, Tarak Chand Boral, Bitthal Das Gujrathi, Satya Kinkar Bandopadhyay, Sonagachi, Horimoti, Gramaphone Records, Khayal, Thumri, Dhrupad, Bijoy Nandi,Dani Babu, Satya Kinkar Bandopadhyay, Indubala
Language English

Sri Rantideb Maitra speaks :

Text Version:

In the late 1980’s there was a crisis of good pakhawaj players in Calcutta. Rajibbabu had died. Tarak Chand Boral, he was paralyzed.  Bitthal Das Gujrati was becoming quite old and he will never reach out to students of Dhrupad to accompany them in the houses. So it was a very very dicey situation.  Now my wife, you know was a Dhrupad singer and she learnt under Satya Kinkar babu…Sangeetacharya Satya Kinkar Bandyopadhyay and she really wanted you know to keep alive the tradition and so practiced those Dhrupad. But unfortunately she had to practice with Tabla players. And it was my duty. And she used to regularly reprimand me that –‘you are supposed to be a music lover. But you can’t find a simple Pakhawaj player for me in Calcutta’?

I said that, ‘unfortunately Pakhawaj players are not available in Lake Market, Southern Market even New Market. So where will I get it?

– No no no, I mean no joking. If you can’t bring me a Pakhawaj player within this month I’ll stop singing Dhrupad. I’ll sing only Khyal.

I loved Dhrupad too much. I didn’t want to, you know, my wife to give up Dhrupad singing. So I was getting very desperate. Somebody told me that the best place; the only place may be go to Sonagachi because there the famous Harimoti was there.

                        Horimoti Devi

Horimoti was a great singer. You must have heard about her. Horimoti had several gramophone records may be hundreds of gramophone records. Although most of the records were you know light songs, but her Khyal records, her Thumri records and her Dhrupad records are absolutely…you should be preserved in any archives. She was such a great singer. She was in the center of Sonagachi and she was dead at the point of time of course. So who is to accompany Horimoti? He is alive. So that was only clue, a Pakhawaj player who used to accompany Horimoti, stayed somewhere near Sonagachi or in Sonagachi. That was the only clue. So I had to go to Sonagachi and then mostly those were Dalals you know Pimps. So I was asking one Pimp after the other –‘look I want, you know, a Pakhawaj…you know what is Pakhawaj? I drew a Pakhawaj with a pencil….this is Pakhawaj and it played like this. Do you know of a person?

– Dholak?

– No, no, no, not Dholak…Pakhawaj. It is like this, you know.

– Haan, Dholakbajaye ache. KintuPakhawaj? ….aeiekebol to? Okebol to? (Yes, someone is there plays Dholak, but Pakhawaj? Listen…you ask him or someone other…)

So luckily near Sonagachi there was one Tanpura Harmonium shop still. I don’t think it is still there but at that time it was there. So they took me to the Tanpura Harmonium shop. I thought this must be the place. They will know it definitely. So I said that you know…apnaderekhane …do you know any Pakhawaj player who plays Pakhawaj ,Tabla?

– O ekjon e ache….there is only one. His name is Bijoy Nandi. So it was like something blessing from the heaven. I said that -‘where do I find him’?

– He just stays here. Wait here.

I was waiting. After ten to fifteen minutes he got a person. He is very simple type of person.  He is Bijoy Nandi.

– A re apni Bijoybabu…namaskar…namaskar. (Oh…you are Bijoybabu. My heartily greetings…). Do you play pakhawaj?

He said that- ‘oh….pakhawaj! Where are those singers? With whom will I play Pakhawaj? Those were the days you know. Great Ustads…Danibabu…this babu…that babu…Horimoti. Is there any singer fit I have to accompany now?

I said –‘My wife is a disciple of Satyakinkar.

– Oh Satyakinkar …Ok… Ok…

– will you be kind enough to come to my house and accompany her once in a week or twice in a week?

– Where is your house? Then he thought …I said that what will be your fees? He said meager sixty rupees or something. I immediately agreed.

– Was it per class or for a month?

– Per class.

                     Indubala Devi

So I agreed. Then first day I took him in my car and got him in my flat. He started playing Pakhawaj. He was good but he was out of practice. But he was a khandani Pakhawaj player no doubt about that. We understood that and then he started narrating stories about most the gramophone records of Indubala.  He was accompanist. I thought Oh my god what a luck…I mean I was playing one after another Indubala’s records…and he said ‘this is my playing…this is my playing’. The person who accompanies Indubala must be somebody you know. He narrated me lot of stories about Indubala, about Horimoti and those singer of that point of time.

 Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

 

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqg0kmmRR9M

https://www.saregama.com/artist/indubala-devi_2838/songs

Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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

Performance, South, Accompaniment, 1975-2000

Rasaraj Nidan Bandhu Bandyopadhyay accompanied Bindhayabasini Devi on Pakhawaj—The City’s music-reputation maintained

Told by Sri Rantideb Maitra
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 4th March,2017
Place Sri Rantideb Maitra’s Residence, Madur Daho, Kolkata
About the speaker Renowned Music Collector and Music Connoisseur
Tags Bindhyabasini Devi,  Surendranath Bandopadhyay, Gopeswar Bandopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Surbahar, Banjo, Esraj, Dhrupad, khayal, Tappa, Bishnupur, Chetla, Early 1990’s, Pakhawaj, Accompanist, Rajiv Lochan Dey,  Haradhan Pal, Nidan Bandhu Bandyopadhyay, Vocalist, Bamacharan Bandyopadhyay, Tabla, Lakkhan Bhattacharya, Lakshan, Ravi Shankar, Barna Maitra, Bramha taal, Pancham Sawari, Bol, Theka, Benaras, Jaipur, Punjab, Gharana
Language English, [little bit of Hindi and Bengali]

Sri Rantideb Maitra speaks :

 

Verbatim:

 This is about Bindhyabasini Devi, now Bindhyabasini Devi was the daughter of Sangeet Ratnakar Surendranath Bandopadhyay, Surendranath Bandopadhyay was the younger brother of Shri Gopeswar Bandopadhyay,

Sangeetacharya Gopeshwar Bandopadhyay

He himself was a versatile musician, and one of the earliest ‘Swarlipikar’of Tagore songs. He was a ustad of Surbahar, Banjo, himself was a dhrupad singer et etc. Now Bindhyabasini also stayed with her father almost through out her life because she was widowed when she was a child and she learnt everything from her father, Surbahar, Esraj, Banjo, Dhrupad, Khayal everything, Tappa and she was very very, you know, a ‘teji’ lady, teji means what, full of that fiery power, and I have met her several times in Bishnupur, but once a documentary film was made on her life, by some film maker, and she was staying in Chetla in Calcutta. That’s in early 90’S, and I used to visit her, listen to her songs.  But unfortunately at that time, I mean there were very few pakhawaj player at Calcutta, at lest I didn’t know many of them and those Pakhawaj players were not up to the mark, Rajib babu was not there at that point of time, Haradhan Pal was dead, and I mean the great Pakhawaj players were not there. There were bunch of young Pakhawaj players, but knowing Bindhyabasini Devi’s temper, I thought that it’s better not to expose the younger Pakhawaj players with Bindhyabasini Devi. So I was talking to her that before you leave Calcutta there must be a recital, then she said that ‘yes I can sing, but who will play with me?”. I said that I will definitely catch hold of somebody, so let us fix Tuesday evening? I had to have two three days to search for a Pakhawaj player. So that Tuesday evening was fixed for her to sing, in the same house in Chetla, So I was searching, here I don’t want to give the name of some senior Pakhawaj player, I approached him, He said, Oh, he heard the name he was suppose to accompany, then he said o ho I have a class on tht particular day, Then I said please give me some name of your pupils, He gave two or three names and I approached them, but when they heard that there is Ustad from Bishnupur, then they didn’t want to expose them. So I was feeling so frustrated, and that Tuesday duly came and I came back early from the office and I felt so bad, I mean the entire city of Calcutta cant show face to Bindhyabasini Devi, It’s such a big city which doesn’t have a Pakhawaj player. Then one thought stuck me.

Rasaraj Nidan Bandhu Bandopadhyay

I thought that  I know such a great Ustad, Nidan Bondhu Bandopadhyaya, but he is a vocalist, he is a Dhrupad singer, Khayal Singer, nephew of Bama Charan Bandopadhyay and he is Gharanadar, great artist, but Nidan Babu was a very good Tabla player, he is to accompany Lakkhan Bhattacharya, Ravi Shankar, a very good table player and I have seen a Pakhawaj in his room, sometimes he also practices Pakhawaj. But he was a Ustad, he knew everything. Sojust with a trepidation in my heart I went to Nidan Babu and said that there is a serious problem, he said what, what exactly has happened?is anybody ill?

 

I said no no, I narrated to him about Bindhyabasini Devi, I told him that the entire Calcutta has to hang there and it’s a shame if I can’t find a accompanist.

He said yes but what I am suppose to do? I agree but what I am suppose to do?

I said Guruji if you do not mind, can I request you one thing?

What?

I said will you play Pakhawaj with her, o myGod, such great Ustad he was and I am asking him to play Pakhawaj! But he used to really love me like his son, because my wife and my daugther both used to learn under him.

Then he said that – ‘Chup’(Hush), then he closed his door, I said that look yor request is such outrage that if any from my house even listen to your request, it will create lot of problems for you and for me as well.

I said but it’s a desperate situation.

He said I understand, what you do, you just tell my wife, your Mashima, that you are inviting me to your house and I’ll have dinner with you, and what you do is you don’t take my pakhawaj, You have a pakhawaj in your house, bara has a Pakhawaj, I said yes, you go back to your house, put the Pakhawaj in your trunk, and then come and pick me up as if I am going to have dinner with you, but you first tell your Mashima.

I told mashima I want Guruji to have dinner with us and she said yes, why not, why not?

Then I went back home, picked up the Pakhawaj and put the Pakhawaj in trunk, and I just went to his place to pick him up, Nidan Babu came and he went to Chetla, and there were lot of people, they can commemorate what had happened there.  In chetla we went, I carried the Pakhawaj, I can’t expect Nidan Babu to carry the Pakhawaj, He was at least seventy four or seventy five years old at that point of time.

Bindhyabasini was eighty five or eighty six at that time. So the first question she asked me –‘Rontu, who is this boy?’  , He was seventy four or seventy five years old, I said no no he is the person who will play Pakhawaj with you.

She said –he,ll play Pakhawaj, he doesn’t look like a Pakhawaj player, ok “ki he’(hey) in Bengali, boso, seat down, do you know what is Brambhataal? Because you see I don’t sing Dhrupad in Choutaal or Dhamar, these are for my students, so I just you know, want to sing Brambhataal, Pancham Ki Sawari all these things, and I know these people from Calcutta,They never got a chance to play brambhataal on Pakhawaj, so I don’t want him to take so much trouble. Do you know Brambhataal, “

So Nidanbabu was so modest, he was trying to, I don’t know what has happened to him, he was pretending to be modest, what a great person he was, and he was pretending to be modest and said’ yes maa, I know Brambhataa’l and then she said that “Bol Batao brambhataal ka, theka batao”

Then Nidanbabu got slightly angry, and whenever he used to get angry he used to speak Hindi. Sure sign that he is getting angry. Then he said “ Mataji, char kisam ka brambhataal ka theka hota hay, Banaras mein ek hota tha, Jaipur mein aur ek hota tha, aur ek, usey sb bhul gaye, bahut punjab mein ek Dhrupad ka gharana hota tha, wahan pe bhi Bramhataal ka ek theka tha, aur aapki bishnupur mein brambhataal ki koi jaankari nehi hay”. So Bindhyabasini was then impressed and said “oh e anek jaane”( He  knows quite a lot). He knows lot of things right, ok ok grab a seat, and then she sang and he played the Pakhawaj. Brambhataal, Pancham Ki Sawari and all these things. Later she asked his name and he answered Nidan, Ok “Nidan Nidan, tumi bhalo bajao chokra tomar habe, kolkatay akhono du ekjon ache jara jane tane ”( well played my boy, you will sine one day, there two or three people in Kolkata still now who can play, good).

Verbatim: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.co.in/search?biw=1440&bih=826&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=SjHvWrq2OcXjvgSn2IewAw&q=Gopeswar+Bandopadhyay&oq=Gopeswar+Bandopadhyay&gs_l=img.3…63025.79691.0.80096.44.32.2.0.0.0.259.4626.0j23j3.26.0….0…1c.1.64.img..23.10.1394.0..0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i10i24k1.0.0m-1rFJdkp0#imgrc=jtb9SSJl8TmhwM:

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=nidan+bandhu+bandyopadhyay&rlz=1C5CHFA_enIN769IN769&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwid8N-mwvHaAhUEro8KHV1LAP8Q_AUIDCgD&biw=1440&bih=826#imgrc=4Owr8LvFcVgAgM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

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