Nikhil Banerjee’s Patdeep—A journey to Transcendence

 

Told by Prof. Sukanti Dutta
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 29th  December, 2016
Place Paikpara
About the speaker Academician, Musician, Music Connoisseur
Tags 1975, Rabindra Sadan, Begum Akhtar, Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Nikhil Banerjee, Patdeep, Alap, Jor, Jhala, Acoustics, Sitar, Ali Akbar Khan, Darbari Kanada, Classical Music, Swapan Chowdhury, Uthan, Tabla, Kani
Language Bengali, English

Prof. Sukanti Dutta speaks :

Verbatim:

1975 ?, ???? ???????? ????, ???? ???????? ?????? ???????? ????, ?? ???????? ???????????? ?? ????? ?????????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????  ????  ????? ??????????, ??????? ????? ???????? ????????????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?? ????? ?????????? ???, ???????? ???????????? ???, ???? ????????????? ???, ????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ???????? ????????, ???? ?????? ???, ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ????, ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????????, ?? ????? ???? ????? ???????????,

Pt. Nikhil Banerjee

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

 Verbatim: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

In 1975, there was a programme in remembrance of Begum Akhtar in Rabindra Sadan. Nikhil Banerjee and Vismadeb Chattopadhyay were to perform consecutively. People were a bit baffled to hear that an instrument would be played before the vocal. But later I heard that Nikhil Banerjee himself requested it, as Vismadeb was a very senior musician and he should complete the programme. As it was a tribute to Begum Akhtar, Nikhil Banerjee played raga Patdeep. I remembered two things clearly, one was that it took fifty-two or fifty- three minutes to complete the raga with alaap, jod and jhala and it was bewitching.  It was like hypnotism and I remined fixed through the performance with my legs one upon another. Afterwards I couldn’t move my legs but the heavenly tune was still there after the music was over. At that time Rabindra Sadan had one of the best aquistics and his sitar had the best tone and quality. Apart from the technical brilliance the performance was superb. The loftiness or transcendence through music was quite rare. I experienced it four times, I think. Once with Ali Akbar Khan’s Darbari Kanara made this magic. But, this performance in 1978 or 79 it was unique. It was so uplifting one can not express it in words. We use the term transfiguration in literature but transcendence is the best word to express it.

pt swapan chaudhuri

Afterwards I went out for a stroll to relieve the cramp on my legs and also to move away from the performance of Swapan Choudhury who started the tabla with gusto. With full respect to him, he should think about the atmosphere created by the earlier performance and chose his piece well. Anyway, I suddenly spotted a person crying helplessly outside. I thought of some misfortune must had befallen him. But he was also inside and experienced the music which had shaken our soul. Nikhil Banerjee had taken the experience of music to another level and no one could come close to that. This was one of my unique experiences.

Translation by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

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

Sangeetacharya Kashinath Chattopadhyay Performing Savani Bihag at Mahajati Sadan

Told by Ms  Chhobi Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Ms  Chhobi Banerjee Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Classical Vocalist, Daughter of Sri Kashinath Chattopadhyay
Tags Kashinath Chattopadhyay, Tansen Sangeet Sanmelan, 1969, Mahajati Sadan, Durgadas Banerjee, Savani Behug, Bishwanath Bose, Tabla, Sarengi, Savani Nat, Savani, Greenroom
Language Bengali

Ms Chhobi Banerjee Speaks :

Verbatim:

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

Verbatim by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

Back in those days, the music conference Tansen was held in MahajatiSadan. My father used to sing at these conferences. In ‘68–69, my father wasn’t in good health, but he was supposed to perform at the Tansen music conference. He didn’t take us with him. We went with a woman (who we called pishima) from the family of Duggadas Banerjee – they were our neighbours. Theirs was a zamindar family. An elderly woman of their household bought the tickets and took us with her. A huge crowd had gathered there to hear my father sing. He sang the ShawaniBeh?g. Pundit Bishwanath Bose, the father of Kumar Bose, was accompanying him on the tabla. There were other instruments as well, including the sarengi. After his performance was over, there was great excitement. We are unfortunate that we could never learn such songs. We saw father entering the greenroom and a crowd around him asking for his autograph. We told him we were leaving and went home with pishima. He was surrounded by people.

Translated by: Sarbajaya Bhattacharya

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

 

Stalwarts at Sangeetacharya Kashinath Chattopadhyay’s Music Room

Told by Ms  Chhobi Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Ms  Chhobi Banerjee Residence , Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Classical Vocalist, Daughter of Sri Kashinath Chattopadhyay
Tags Kashinath Chattopadhya, Rasa Road, Swapan Chowdhury, Bharat Chowdhry, Chhenu Ganguly, Asfaque Hussain Khan, Rag, Raaga, Rageshree, Bandish, Rampur Sahsawan Gharana, 1945. 1946
Language Bengali

Ms Chhobi Banerjee Speaks :

Text version:

???, ?????? ?? ????, ???? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????, ???? ??, ???? ??????? ?? ?, ???? ??????, ??????? ????, ???????? ??? ????? ?????, ????? ?? ???, ????? ????? ??? ???? ????, ???, ?? ???????? ???? ????? ???? ??????, ?????? ??? ?????, ????????? ??? ????? ???? ?????, ?????? ?????, ?????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????, ?????? ????? ???????????????? ?????, ?? ???? ??????? ???? ????, ??????? ????????, ??? ?????? ??????, ???? ????????????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ???, ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????, ??? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?????????? ????? “??????, ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ?????????, ? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????‘ ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ???????, ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ????  ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ????

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

????, ???,?? 50’s, ?? ???????? ??? ????

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

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

Verbatim by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

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

Sangeetacharya Kashinath Chattopadhyay’s Early Days Of Talim

Told by Ms  Chhobi Banerjee
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 5th April, 2017
Place Ms  Chhobi Banerjee Residence, Kali Temple Road, Kolkata
About the speaker Classical Vocalist, Daughter of Sangeetacharya Kashinath Chattopadhyay
Tags 1936,1946, 1945, Kashinath Chattopadhyay, Kolkata, Asfaque Hussain, Mustaque Hussain, Ashiq Hussain, Bai, Nargis, Jardan Bai, Nimmi, Waheedan Bai, Alam Bajar, Baranagar, Bhabananda Road, Rasa Road, Swapan Chowdhury, Bharat Chowdhry, Chenu Ganguly, Asfaque Hussain Khan, Rag, Raaga, Rageshree, Bandish, Rampur Saswan Gharana, 1945. 1946
Language Bengali

Ms. Chhobi Banerjee Speaks :

Verbatim:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Verbatim: RajeswaryGanguly Banerjee

 

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

Birth of Raag Nand Kauns—Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri’s Creativity

Told by Pandit Shyamal Lahiri
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 7th April, 2017
Place Shyamal Lahiri’s Residence at Chandi Ghosh Road, Kudghat.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist, Son of Legendary Musician Pandit Chinmoy Lahiri
Tags Improvisation, Silsila, Raag, Rag, Shyam Kauns, Nand Kauns, Shyam Ranjini, Shubhra, All Bengal Music Conference, Lala Babu, Alauddin Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Sarodia, Suresh Chakraborty, Nanda Babu, Suddha Gandhar, Komal Gandhar, Jog kauns
Language Bengali

Pandit Shyamal Lahiri speaks :

 

Verbatim:

?? ?? ???? ???? ??????????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ???, ????? ???????? ????? ?? ???????, ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ????????, ????? ??? ????? ???????, ????? ??? ????? ???????????, ????? ??? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ???, ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????, ??? ?? ???????, ??? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ????????? ????? ????????, ??? ??? ??????? ??????????, ??? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ???? ‘???? ???? ??????? ?????” ??? ??????? ????? ??? ??????, ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??? ???, ??????? ???? ????????? ????, ??? ???

????? ??? ???

Ustad Allauddin Khan

?? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???, ????????? ??? ?????,  ????????? ??? ????? (??????? ????) “??????? ????? ???????’

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

Verbatim:  Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 Translation:

My father Pundit ChinmoyLahiri did much musical improvisation that can’t be counted. He not only improvised existing ragas but also created new ragas as well. He named them as Shyamkosh, Nandkosh, Shyamranjani and Shubhra.

Pt. Chinmoy Lahiri

Baba performed this raga in All Bengal Music Conference and then Lalababu asked him the source of this new raga. Actually, it was Allauddin Khan Saheb who wanted to know that from where it derived . So, my father told them that it was during a tour with Suresh Chakraborty, a person named Nandababu was with them. He was a learned person and an enthusiast. They daily discussed about the use of twin gandhar in raga Jog, there’s also raga Jogkosh with the usage of both gandhar. From all these discussions my father found the seed of a new raga and he created it with all the finery of Bistar, Taan and Bandish. But he insisted that as Nandbabu was the first to open the thread, thus the  raga was named after him, hence Nandkosh.

Translator: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.google.com/search?q=allauddin+khan&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV_8CKwLnbAhVaXCsKHWKYBJ0Q_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=DmT4hIQV07mgTM:

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=UK1-Qw0Q7qzMUM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 


Note: Contradictions are not uncommon in Indian Classical Music. Some old timers like Pt. Radhika Mohan Maitra  used to believe that the raga Nanda Kauns was originally composed by Pt. Suresh Chandra Chakraborty.  One can find the reflection of the same idea in Bangalapedia. – Editor

Reference: Banglapedia http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Lahiri,_Chinmoy accessed on 07 June 2017.

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

 

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

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