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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.

 

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.

Pt. Lakshman Bhattacharya requesting for Pt. Tarapada Chakraborty to accompany him on the Tabla

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 Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay, Disciple,  Lakshan Bhattacharya, Moody, Chetla Conference, Tarapada Chakraborty, Tabla player, Alap, Jod, Thok Jhala
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.

 

 

On Lakshman Bhattacharya, the Sitar Legend of Bengal

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 Sitar, Swapna Mukherjee, Amiya Bhushan Chattopadhyay, Lakshan Bhattacharya, Gharana, Moody, 1915, 1954, Lucknow, Omrao Khan, Ghulam Mohammad Khan, Tazish Khan, Surbahar, Bamacharan Bhatttacharya, Jitendra Mohan bhattacharya, Kolkata, Dhrupada Anga,
Language Bengali

Swapna Mukherji speaks:

Verbatim:

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

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

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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

 

Remembering happenings at Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Language  Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

 

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

Begum Parveen Sultana: A Lady with Principles

 

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Tags Parveen Sultana ,Bombay (Mumbai), Vinayda (Vinay Pathak), Netaji Indoor Stadium, Rajya Sangeet Academy, Deba Prasad Dey, Manas Mukherjee, stage, mood, tabla, principles
Language Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

Pt. Abhijit Banerjee mentioned during discussions that the incident took place during 1980’s – Editor

Verbatim:

?????? ??????, ???? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ????? ???????, ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ?? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????????? ????????? ?? ??? ???? ????????????? ?? ????????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ??????,- ‘??? ????’? ?? ?? – ‘??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??’ ? ? ?? ?????……?????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ?????, ???? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ????? – ‘??…’? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?????, ?????, -‘?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????’? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? –‘? ???? ???? ???? ?????’????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??! ??? ??? ??????

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

?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????????……?????? ???? ?? ??????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???  ???? ????? ???? ???????? ??? ????????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ???????

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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

 

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

 

 

Remembering Begum Parveen Sultana’s Unique Gestures

 

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Tags Parveen Sultana, Bombay (Mumbai), Kolkata, Rajya Sangeet Academy, 80’s, Manash Mukherjee, Secretary, Netaji Indoor Stadium, Pratush Bandyapadhyay, Sarod, Organisation, Aritra, Kumar Bose, Tajendra Narayan Majumder, Ali Akbar Khan, Dilshad Khan, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Prasun Bandyapadhyay, Tabla, Accompaniment, Nikhil Banerjee, Anindo Chatterjee, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, America, Europe, Newspaper, Criticism
Language Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

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

 

Pt. Mahapurush Mishra’s kind gestures towards a budding child artist

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Tags Keramatulla khan, Ali Akbar khan, Girija Devi, Mahapurush Mishra, Wellington Square, Tansen Sangeet Sammelan, Kanai Dutta, 1973, 1975,  Kala Mandir, Murari Sangeet Sammelan, Sandhya Mukherjee, Kheyal, Sunanda Pattanayak, Nikhil Banerjee, Kharaj-Pancham Alap, Sarafat Hussein Khan, Shankar Ghosh, Tabla Accompaniment,
Language Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

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

 

Vishmadev Chattopadhyay and other stalwarts at Banga Sanskriti Sammelan

 

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Tags Banga Sanskriti Sammenlan, Maidan, 70’s, Ananda Bazar Patirka, Buddhadev Dasgupta, Viswadev Chattopadhyay, Whole-night Programme, Shyamal Bose, Tabla accompaniment, Kheyal, Amjad Ali Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Faiyaz Ahmed, Niyaz Ahmed, Mallikarjun Mansur
Language Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

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

 

Remembering Riyaz of Some Musicians

 

Told by Pt. Abhijit Banerjee
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date  13th March 2017
Place 5/15 Kalicharan Dutta Road. Behala Chowrasta. Kolkata- 700061
About the speaker Pandit Abhijit Banerjee is a renowned Tabla player of Kolkata. He is a prime disciple of Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He has also learned Vocal from Pandit Ajay Chakraborty
Tags Ravi Shankar, Riyaz, Sitar, Discipline, Nikhil Banerjee, Guruji, Jnan Praksh Ghosh, Samta Prasad, Tabla, Ali Akbar Khan, Raga, Tala, Ajay Chakraborty, Sapaat Taan, Prasun Banerjee, Tarapada Chakraborty, Viswadev Chattopadhyay , Arup Chatterjee, Anindo Chatterjee, Kumar Bose, Kushal Das
Language Bengali

Abhijit Banerjee speaks:

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

Verbatim:

                  Pt. Ravi shankar

????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ??, ??????????? ????????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ?????, ?? ??????????? ????? (???)? ?? ????? ???????????? ??????, ??? ??….???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?????, ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??, ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?????, ??? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??????, ????? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????, ??? ?????? ??? ??’ ??? ???? ??? ??????? ??’ ?? ???? ???? ??????-???? ??????? ??? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ????? ??, ?????? ???? ????? ???????? ????? ?????? – (??? ???????) ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?????: ?? ????? ????

 

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

 

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

 

?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ?????????? ???? ?????, ? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ??????????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??????,???? ??????? ???, ????? ??? ??? ?????????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ???? ? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?????, ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ?’???? ???????? ???????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????????? ???????? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???? (?????? ?????????)? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ???? ???? ????? –???? ?? ??, ??, ??, ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????- ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ????? –????? ??????

 

??? ????? – ?? ?? ?????? ??, ??, ??, ???

 

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

– ?? ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ??, ??, ??, ?? ?? ???…

??? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ???????? ???? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ?? …???? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????…

 

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

 

??? ????? – ????

 

– ??????? ?? ??? ????, ??? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??, ?????? ??? ??, ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ????? ? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ???????? ????? ????????? ??? ????????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?? ?????

 

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Translation:

Among the elders, I have heard about Pt Ravishankarji, I have not seen his Riyaz (practise) personally. I heard that at the age of ninety-three, he still bathed in the morning and started his practise from 9a.m. to 11 a.m. He had that discipline throughout his life. I have seen Nikhil Banerjee also, every day he had to practise. I remembered one incident. His domestic help had committed suicide inside his residence. He, as usual, had completed his morning walk and while entering his house saw the body hanging under the stairs. He was a little bit short sighted and he touched the body to ascertain. Then the police came and all the hustle bustle started. Meanwhile Nikhil Banerjee had started his Riyaz at eight a.m. To him, ‘the police are doing their job, I am doing mine’. From eight a.m. to twelve -thirty he used to practise. It was a lesson in itself to hear him practise- as my Guruji advised us about tabla practise (bolparanta) to carry on in one tempo (laya) for minimum half an hour.

 

Other elders like Shamta Prasadji used to practise hard, I have heard the tales. Nikhil Banerjee as I knew him and played with him, practised vigorously. Just before the day of his death, in fact, even the day he died he practised. That very day, he returned from Dover Lane, he was feeling ill, but he kept practising. Then he said he was not feeling well and needed some rest. We had a feast, we had to go there. Then I returned home. In the evening a phone call came that he was no more. I have rarely seen such a riyaji person in my life.

                   Pt. Ajay Chakraborty

Another person, I can recall, is Pt. Ajay Chakraborty. When he was practicing sapa?t ta?na, he was doing three thousand sapa?t ta?na and told us to keep count. He would do this and started sweating by the sheer effort. He is the first Bengali classical singer, I can say this with much pride, whom the rest of India accepted wholly. Yes, there were others earlier, the very best of singers, but they did not get accepted in classical brotherhood. Before Ajayda, there were Prasun Banerjee, a great singer, Tarapada babu was excellent, Pt.Vismadeb Chattopadhyay was unbelievably good. I will tell you anecdote about Pt.Vismadeb Chattopadhyay later.

 

Another Riyazi person was Arup Chatterjee, the tabla player who is also my friend. Another senior tabla player is Anindya da, who is very sincere about Riyaz. Kumar Bose is among other Riyazi players. Another tabla player, a little senior to me, is Kushalda, we toured together a lot and I know that Riyaz is his life. I have seen Nikhil Banerjee as well as Kushalda practising simple sargam. So, one day I asked him about it, I was very young then, and I used to ask such foolish things and he didn’t mind. So, I asked away, ‘why do you have to practice sargam very day?’ He answered that your Guruji Jnanbabu did not ask you to practice such simple things in the morning? ‘Yes’ I answered truthfully, ‘but why should you do it regularly? You are a master, I am a learner.’ So, he smilingly answered ‘Why? Am I out of this world?’

                              Pt. Nikhil Banerjee

He had some grievances against Pt. Ravishankar but whenever I recalled his name, Nikhil babu was agitated and started grumbling. He used to tell me, “Don’t you talk about Robuda in front of me, I know you amused yourself by hearing such anecdotes. But you should know one thing for sure that if you want to listen to shudhhara?ga, if there would be a bakra?chalan even (in a ra?ga) he would maintain that. Neither me nor Pt. Ali Akbar (whom he used to call Dada) did maintain this. There is no doubt, no second thoughts about it that if you want to listen to pure Ra?ga, pure tempo (ta?la), he is the master (Pundit). I may have my personal grievances against him but do not mix these up.”So he taught me these things, but still we used to amuse ourselves sometimes.

Translated by: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://www.inmemoryglobal.com/remembrance/2016/01/nikhil-banerjee/

https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/photo/pandit-ravi-shankar-indian-classical-music-high-res-stock-photography/521665332

http://www.aimrec.com/ajoy-chakraborty/

 Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul