Category Archives: Kolkata

South, Music Allied, 1975-2000

Remembering Ustad Vilayat Khan—Amazing Music-Memory

Told by Vidushi Subhra Guha
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 5th December 2016
Place Aasha Co-Operative Housing Society Ltd .93, Deshapran Sashmal Road
Flat-III / D-10.  Kolkata -700033
About the speaker Vidushi Subhra Guha is a leading female vocalist of Agra gharana. She was a scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata and later she was nominated as a Guru in the Sangeet Research Academy.
Tags 1988, Vilayat Khan, Bade Gulam Ali Khan, Vilayat Hussain Khan, Pran Piya, Yunus Hussain Khan, Raag Jog, Sthayi, Antara, Notation, Zila Khan, ITC-SRA
Language Bengali

Vidushi Subhra Guha speaks:

 

Verbatim:

               Ustad Vilayat Khan

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

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

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

?? ???…?

????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???…?????? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? – ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?????

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

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

             Zila Khan

??? ????? –????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? …! ??? ????? – ‘?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????’?

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

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

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

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul     

 

 Translation:

Ustad Vilayat Khan visited the Sangeet research Academy in 1998. The Tenth Anniversary Celebrations saw the presence of almost all musicians, including Vilayat Khan, who had come and stayed there for a week.  I had a great adoration for him. Even if I would touch his instrument, I got excited and gave the same expression what I would give if Bade Ghulam Ali Khan comes here before me at present. I used to be close to him at all times, going to him at 7 in the morning and return to my hostel room on campus at 11 p.m. There were so many things he would say, such beautiful singing too. Maybe not everything what he was saying would be true, but the way he was presenting those enchanted me and the bandish that he sang, I felt the most melodious thing I had ever heard.

            Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan

Let me tell you of an incident of that time. The evening before he was due to leave, he asked me – “You know of Vilayat Hussain Khan, considered one of the greatest Ustads of the Agra Gharana, father of Ustad Yunus Khan, whose pen name was Pran Piya. Do you know Bandish composed by him?”

I said, “Yes, I have learned this,” and sang to him a Bandish in Jog, in quite difficult Ektaal.

I sang the Asthayi once. He said, Sing the Asthayi once again. I sang the Antara. He was all praise and asked me to sing the Antara again. In total, I sang the Asthayi and the Antara twice each. He said, “Beta, I am going back tomorrow. Please make a notation of this for me.”

The next morning I had prepared the notation and went to him. He was scheduled to leave at 11 or 12. He took the notation and kept it in his pocket.

“Didn’t you check if the notation is all right?”, I asked.

He said, “I cannot read Hindi. This I have taken for Zila (his daughter). This will be useful for her.”

I was thinking, he praised it so much, and now this…

He said, “You want to hear? You want to hear it from me? Here you go.”

Remember, I had sung the Asthayi and Antara only twice, and that too of a bandish that was quite long. And the very next day, he was saying, “I have not slept well the whole night, I was committing the Bandish to memory.” He sang the entire Bandish, without having put it to paper or having read the notation. He said, “It is now in my memory.” He didn’t have to record it. In his words, “This memory of mine, this is the record. I will never forget this in my lifetime. I did not sleep well at night, so that I could memorized in my mind.”

(Demonstrating the bandish) Can anyone sing this after having listened to it once or twice? It is so long and complicated. Just take a look towards its starting point; it’s quite difficult to start it in accordance with the framed time cycle. But all he needed was the twice repetation of both Asthayi and Antara, that’s enough for him.

 Translated by: Arundhati Banerjee

 

Picture Courtesy: Google

https://zilakhan.wordpress.com/tag/vilayat-khan/

https://www.symphonyspace.org/event/7124/Music/songs-of-the-sufis-ustademaa-zila-khan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnI76xfKkV4

Edited & Designed: Dr.Suranjita Paul

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

Sangeet Research Academy My Turning Point—Vidushi Subhra Guha

Told by Vidushi Subhra Guha
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 5th December 2016
Place Aasha Co-Operative Housing Society Ltd .93, Deshapran Sashmal Road
Flat-III / D-10.  Kolkata -700033
About the speaker Vidushi Subhra Guha is a leading female vocalist of Agra gharana. She was a scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata and later she was nominated as a Guru in the Sangeet Research Academy.
Tags 1981, Sangeet Research Academy, Riyaz, Guru, Sishya, Agra gharana, Atta Hussain Khan, Faiyaz Khan, Sunil Bose, 1978, Music Scholar, 1975 – 79, Taalim, Nisar Hussain Khan, Nivrutibua Sarnaik, Latafat Khan, Hirabai Barodekar, Yunus Hussain Khan, Girija Devi, A.T Kanan, Malabika Kanan, 1993, K.G Ginde, Vijay Kichlu
Language Bengali

Vidushi Subhra Guha speaks:

Verbatim:

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

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

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

???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? (The great turning point of my life)? ???? ?????? ??? ????????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????, ??? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? –???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ????????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?????, ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ???, ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ???? –???? –???? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ?????????? ?????? ????, ??????? ?????? ??? ?????????? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ??-?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ?????????? ???? ??????????? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??? ?????, ??-?? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ‘????? ?? ????-?????? ??? ???? ?????’? ??? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ????????? ??? ???? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ?????? ?????????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ???? ??????? ????? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????, ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???, ???????? ????? ?????? ??????????? ?????

?????? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ??????, ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????, ?????? ?????????????? ??????? ?????, ??????? ?????? ?????, ??? ??????? ???????, ?????? ????? ??? ?????, ?????? ????, ?. ????, ??????? ???? …???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????, ??? ?????, ??? ????? ?????, ???????? ?????, ??? ???????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??????, ?? ???? ??? ?????????, ????? ????? ??? ?????????, ??? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?????????, ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ????, ????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ??, ?? ??? ?????, ????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ‘??-?? ??? ??????? ???? ????????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????, ?? ??? ????, ?? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ‘??? ??? ?????’ – ???? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???????

?????? ????? ?????? ??. ??. ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???, ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ??? ???? ??? ???…?????? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??  ?????? ??????? ????????? ??? ??? ?? ???????? ??’?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ??????, ????????? ????? ?????, ???????: ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????, ????? ???? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ????????? ?????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ????????

 

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

 

 Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Performance, North, 1921-1947, #Press Reports

Amrita Bazar Patrika | 25 december, 1940 | Page 7

Amrita Bazar Patrika | 25 december, 1940 | Page 7

Amrita Bazar Patrika | 25 december, 1940 | Page 7                                

Coming Calcutta Attraction

Music Festival

All Bengal Music Confce

At First Empire

The seventh session of the All-Bengal Music Conference sits on board the First Empire on and from Sunday the 29th December next and lasts till Wednesday the 1st January – 1941. There will be in all eight sittings.

The following famous artists will demonstrate classical music and dance at the Conference: –

  1. Khan Saheb Mustaque Hossain Khan of Rampur State, the famous Kheyaliya who belongs to the Gharowana (School) of Enayet Hossain of Rampur.
  2. Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Sangit-Martanda of the School of Late Pandit Vishnu Digambar, (Kheyal and Bhajan).
  3. Khan Saheb Golam Ali Khan, famous Kheyaliya and son of Ali Bux of Lahore.
  4. Srimati Hirabai Barodekar, a disciple of the late Khan Saheb Abdul Karim Khan of Bombay, (Khayal and Thumri).
  5. Srimati Saraswati Bai of Bombay (Kheyal).
  6. Khan Saheb Ziauddin, son of Taksuddin Khan brother of Late Ustad Alabande Khan (Dhrupad and Alap).
  7. Khan Saheb Bhai Lal Muhammad Rababi, a disciple of famous Hindu musician Bhaskar Rao.
  8. Magan Lal, a disciple of Lachmi Narayan, of Panchgachia, Bhagalpur.
  9. Vilayatoo’s Sahnai Party of Benares.
  10. Anokhelal of Benares (Tabla).
  11. Miss Menaka Bai of Bombay, (Dance).
  12. Master Madan, 14 – year – old musician of Delhi Radio.
  13. Sundaram Aiyar, renowened violinist of Madras.
  14. Hiralal, famous dancer of Jaipur.
  15. Khan Saheb Samsuddin of Bombay, (Tabla).

Some of the famous Calcutta musicians will also demonstrate.

 ——————————————

Source:

“Amrita Bazar Patrika [Daily]. Vol: 72; Issue:355 (25 December 1940).” Accessed December 16, 2016. http://eap.bl.uk/database/large_image.a4d?digrec=4266590;catid=226947;r=26962.

 

Identified by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee, Research Fellow

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

 

Teaching-Learning, South, Listening, Music Allied, 1975-2000

Remembering Pt. K.G. Ginde—the extraordinary devotion and his final departure

Told by Vidushi Subhra Guha
Obtained by Suranjita Paul
Date 5th December 2016
Place Aasha Co-Operative Housing Society Ltd .93, Deshapran Sashmal Road
Flat-III / D-10.  Kolkata -700033
About the speaker Vidushi Subhra Guha is a leading female vocalist of Agra gharana. She was a scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata and later she was nominated as a Guru in the Sangeet Research Academy.
Tags Guru-Sishya parampara, K. G Ginde, Srikrishna Narayan Ratanjankar, Bandish, Bhatkhande Music college, Faiyaz khan, Lucknow, Raag Viyog-Barari, Sunil Basu, Sangeet Research Academy, Raga Chayanat, 1994
Language Bengali

Vidushi Subhra Guha speaks:

Hand-written Notation of Pt. K.G. Ginde. [Courtesy Subhra Guha]

Verbatim:

I believe in ‘guru-sishyaparampara’. Pt.K.G.Ginde was the disciple of Sri krishna Narayan Ratanjankar, S.N.Ratanjankar. He was an ocean of learning, how can I describe him, he could see the bandishes differently. When I sing a bandish I can feel it clearly. Gindeji started his learning at the age of ten, his father had left him with Ratanjankarji and told him to raise him up as he sees fit. So, he passed class ten from Lucknow and for twenty-eight years he lived with Ratanjankarji, never leaving his side. I saw Gindeji very closely; he had few demands in life, bare minimum things without luxury. He had a simple cot to sleep on, a wooden table-chair for his studies, no fancy things. He had a very poor income as the principal of Vatkhande college, I think now it would be a large sum compared to then. Anyway, I want to depict two incidents here to remember him.

Pt. S.N. Ratanjhankar

Gindeji knew every bandishes of Ratanjankarji and he wanted to publish it. It would be a great help for everyone, but when he asked the publishers they demanded a large sum which he didn’t have, so he started to write them down. I want to show you the book; it was unbelievable that it was handwritten. He used a simple scale and pencil to write down the bandishes. He spent days in a table with a pen, pencil and rubber and produced six of this.  We can imagine how much reverence and dedication to his guruji can made him do this. You have to see it to believe the different swar were written using scales and eraser. His entire being was dedicated to this job, to immortalize the work of his guruji. Sunil Basu also learnt from Ratanjankarji and whenever they met they used to discuss their guruji. Every time my guru Gindeji came over to my place they used to remember his guruji and Ustad Faiyaz Khan and they would cry with all the emotions. We were quite novice then and my fellow disciples would laugh behind his back and asked me whether I got bored with the same topic every day. I too, was quite young then but now I can understand that the love behind this.  They didn’t discuss the same incident every day, but the same topics would come up after some time. The gandhar his guruji sang in some programme, or some other songs and they used to cry over these. I was so overwhelmed to see them crying that I joined, I never heard any of the discussed persons and I never knew them personally but still emotions were high and I flowed through it. I now understand that to achieve proper leaning from a perfect guru is a boon and the devotion would come automatically.

After twenty-eight years Ratanjankarji asked Gindeji to live on his own, to start a life and career. The day he left his guru’s house in Lucknow he went to return all bank passbooks and other documents of Ratanjankarji which he always kept and maintained. Ratanjankarji was furious, you want me to keep a tab on you? And he tore them up, he was so upset himself. He then gave Gindeji a new composition, a new raga named Viyog  Barari. He never sang this raga, he would get so emotional. I heard from Sunil uncle that Ratanjankarji was a very strict man. He was almost devoid of emotions. It’s rare to see him smile and they never seen him crying. But that day as Gindeji was leaving he was singing this raga and crying. All the people present there were crying helplessly. This is the ideal relation between guru-shishya which I am talking about.

The story I was talking about, the hand-in written notations of the bandishes of Ratanjankarji. Gindeji wrote them himself with such meticulous perfection and then he came here in Sangeet Research Academy and presented the six volumes to them.

Hand-written Notation of Pt. K.G. Ginde.

He then said that I would be ever indebted to my guruji. If I reborn ten times and he wear his chappals made by my skin, I would still be indebted to him. But I have tried to give back a little bit and this is my humble offering. These six parts of the compilation of his bandishes are all here and I am quite content to leave this world. I think my job is done here.

Pt. K.G.Ginde

Within seven days, he had a little anomaly in his heart. Then suddenly within a month of his submission of his life’s work he passed away suddenly. He was eating and humming raga chhayanat, suddenly the spoon slipped and he fell too. No chance for a doctor to do anything. I think a proper sadhak (monk) could only achieve such level.

 

Translated by:  Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Vidushi Subhra Guha, Google

https://www.google.com/search?q=k.g.ginde&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivsuvVs6rbAhWEfisKHa4xArkQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=voeMO0kQ0MiqZM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=S+N+Ratanjankar&client=firefox-b&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONQFuLSz9U3KClKjzdOUwKzjSsNzCuSTjEiSUA5MBlOECelwLioGCpRnJFmGJ8F5ZjFl6UlF0I5JslJKYUwjnFGvGWGGVR_WrxxueUvRrWg1JzEktQUhZJ8BW89BXcgysxLSVVIzEtRcEvMrEysUvDOSMzbxYLknF0sCBMAIgxMj8IAAAA&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwir_8CVtarbAhUFX30KHd4RCy8Q_AUICygC&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=9u5iOGBTyjo_vM:

Edited & Designed: Ms. Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

 

 

 

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

 

North, Teaching-Learning, 1961-1974

Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay teaching his son, Talim started with Bageshri Bahar—Tradition Continues

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Jayanta Chattopadhyay, Haren Guha, Talim, Diptikana Chattopadhya, Harmonium, Bageshri Bahar, Jhaptal, Desi Todi, Swara, Dulal Chakroborty, Lily Chakroborty, Ganda, Tabla, Ektal,Bol, Bandish, Vilambit, Boltaan, Drut, 1968, 30  Sarkar Lane
Language Bengali

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947, Music Allied

Music Teaching is important, not the fees—Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Bimal Chattopadhyay, Bimal Majumdar, 1935, 1936, Bhupali, Swara, Gurudakshina, Prabhabati Devi, Megaphone
Language Bengali

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947, Central

The ‘Ni’ of Shankara—Vishmadev teaching during a long walk at gaRer mAth

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Robin Chattopadhyah, Bimal Chattopadhyay, Shankara, Talim, Ni, Behug, A.I.R, Rashbehari  Avenue, S.D.Burman, Garer Math, Gader, gaRer mAth, Kolkata Maidan, Guru, Talim, 1935, 1936
Language Bengali

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947

Lessons during Kite Flying—Khalifa Badal Khan teaching boy Vishmadev

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Badal Khan, 1924, kite flying, lessons, Moizuddin Khan, Amiya Nath Sanyal, Don-Baithak, exercise
Language Bengali, Hindi

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

Verbatim:

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

Ustad Badal Khan

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

  • ????-??

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

Verbatim by: Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee

Translation:

All artists are known to be a bit moody. Musicians are no exception, as they are always within their Sadhana. Since they cannot see the music and have to attain it through the feeling, they are called Sangeet Sadhaks. So they are moody by nature. Badal Khan was moody and short-tempered too. And all the more was Vishmadeb.

One day, in 1924-25, Badal Khan saheb had come to teach and learned that his disciple was up on the roof, flying a kite. He said, “Don’t call him, I’ll go there myself.” He knew his student’s mood. He went up gently and found Vishmadev’s eyes on the kite in the sky. He took the kite’s spool from his hand .Viishmadev, finding his guru there, was taken a back, but Badal Kahan saheb told him, you go on flying the kite. He kept the kite’s spool  in his hands, and started to hum a lesson from there, and his student, with his kite in the sky, was learning , singing along. These ways of imparting lessons were there in those days, but now we have become too much methodical.

Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay

When Baba was a bit older, he used to indulge in physical exercises a lot. One day Badal Khan saheb had arrived when he was doing his exercises. My father could do 500 push-ups at one stretch; something many people could do in multiple sets. So Badal Khan saheb found him doing one push-up after another. When he finished, he found his Guru standing behind him. He said, “beta, if you continue exercising like this, you  would ruin your voice”, but praised him too by saying that he had not seen anybody do it like this. We have heard that Moizuddin Khan Saheb did push-ups and squats before he performed at a programme, which finds mention in Amiya Nath Sanyal’s writings. So it was with Vishmadev.

 

Translated by: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google 

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b&biw=1366&bih=631&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=EM4LW8WMGNbf9QOevK3IDg&q=badal+khan+&oq=badal+khan+&gs_l=img.12..0i30k1j0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1l2j0i24k1l2.7892.7892.0.10112.1.1.0.0.0.0.177.177.0j1.1.0….0…1c.1.64.img..0.1.176….0.2rE2rmVpDgA#imgrc=gyvQnzSpC39tYM:

https://www.google.com/search?q=vishmadev+chattopadhyay&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi415LzjKjbAhWNSH0KHdSDATEQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=631#imgrc=ZKAdbmkmkGWBj

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947

Khalifa should never be Refused—Dictum of Smt. Pravabati Devi, the mother of Vishmadev Chatterjee

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Badal Khan, Pravabati Devi, Gurudokshina, Guru, 1924, 1925, Gulu Ostagor Lane, Chidam Mudi Lane
Language Bengali

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

Verbatim:

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

  • ????? ?? ?????
  • ??????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?????
  • ????-??
  • ????? ?? ,?? ???? ????
  • ?? ???????? ??? ?????????
  • ????? ?? ??? ??? ???????

Verbatim: RajeswaryGanguly Banerjee

 

 

 

Data processed at SAP-DRS Lab, Department of Instrumental Music, Rabindra Bharati University.
North, Teaching-Learning, 1921-1947

Even Six Long Life Spans are not enough to learn Raag Malkauns—Khalifa Badal Khan

Told by Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay
Obtained by Rajeswary Ganguly Banerjee
Date 6th December, 2016
Place S.A.P. Lab, Instrumental Department, Rabindra Bharati University, B.T. Road Campus.
About the speaker Renowned Vocalist and Musicologist, Son of Legendary Musician Ustad Vishmadev Chattopadhyay.
Tags Vishmadev Chattopadhyay, Badal Khan, Tappa, Bengali Song, Paschima Gaan, Raag, Malkauns, 1923, Ashotosh Chattopadhyay, Gurudakshina, Performance, Chidam Mudi Lane, Gulu Ostagor Lane
Language Bengali, Hindi

Sri Jayanta Chattopadhyay speaks :

 

Verbatim:

        Ustad Badal Khan

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

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

– ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ????

Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

 Transation:

Badal Khan Saheb started teaching music to father. This was at either the Chhidam Mudi lane or the Gulu Ostagar Lane residence.

                 Pt. Vishmadeb Chattopadhyay

Baba had learned Tappa well before this. But the first thing that Badal Khan did was to stop him from singing Bengali songs, saying that singing those cast a regional influence on his singing, which would prevent him in his endeavour to bring about the pan-Indian character in father’s voice. So Bhismadev stopped singing bangla songs, which opened up the North Indian style before him. Even to a talented artist like Bhismadev, Badal Khan taught only Malkauns for six months. He started teaching in 1923, when father was 14 years old. After the lessons had gone on for six months, my grandfather, Ashutosh Chattopadhyay, noticed that the same song was going on for six months, no new ones. And the fees or ‘Gurudakshina’ that was being paid to Badal Khan saheb was quite hefty even by today’s standards. Each day he used to come, he was paid two rupees, which was the price of one mon (about 37 kgs) of rice. And the rickshaw fare was paid separately. You can calculate how much that quantity of rice costs now. This was paid per day. It also happened, though not within those six months, that Badal Khan saheb had come twice a day, because he had suddenly remembered a song that he had to teach.  Anyway, every day he came, Ashutosh Chattopadhyay, who had never taken lessons in music himself, thought that the same song was being taught for six months. Just as Badal Khan saheb had finished his lessons and gone out of the room, than Ashutosh Chattopadhyay said to Bhismadev, “ Will he not give you any other song? The same malkauns has been going on.” Badal Khan saheb had not actually left, as he took some time to put on his shoes due to old age. He came back in and said, “ Ashubabu, Malkauns is such a Raag that let alone six months, even six life spans are not enough to learn it. I am preparing the base now; you’ll see the results after the preparation is complete.” Later, it was often the case that he taught one raag in the morning and another in the evening. And, thanks to Bhismadev’s musical talent, he picked it up with ease. Not everyone he tried to teach thus could do so. He was so talented that often the raag he learned in the morning, he performed at a musical function in the evening. And I am not talking about the song, but the Raag itself.

Translated by: Arundhati Banerjee

Picture Courtesy: Google

http://www.vibotunes.com/gallery.php?cPath=1&page=24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuFTMFwfW1E

Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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