Kesarbai Kerkar and Fayyaz Khan in Challenging Mood

Told by Maharaj Banerjee
Obtained by Sanjoy Bandopadhyay and Dilip Mukherjee
Date 05 July, 2015
Place Sati Sadan, 41, Harish Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipur, Kolkata 700025
About Maharaj Banerjee Son and disciple of Pt. Montu Banerjee [Tabla, Sarod, Harmonium]. Disciple of Pt. Muneshwar Dayal [Harmonium], Ustd. Ahmedjan Thirakawa. [Tabla].
Tags All India Music Conference, Lala Babu, Mahajati Sadan, 1940-42, Kesarbai, Alladiya Khan, morning session, Bilaval, Kukubh, 1938
Language Bengali

Maharaj Banerjee speaks :

 

Verbatim:

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

– ???????? ??? ?????

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

????? ??????

              Ustad faiyaz Khan

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

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

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 Verbatim by: Dr. Suranjita Paul

Translation:

It was a morning programme. All Bengal Music Conference.

Where was this?

This was the one hosted by Lal babu. All India. This one was held at Mahajati Sadan.

When was this approximately?

               Kesarbai Kerkar

This was around 1940/41-42. Kesar Bai was singing in the morning. She was a very sombre kind of a woman. She was the only disciple of Alladiya Khan. In the morning, she was singing varieties of Raga Bilawal. Bilawal is a very difficult raga. There are many variations – kukuv bilawal and so on and so forth. Keshar Bai was singing. In the heat of the moment she said, “Bade Miyan, this is very difficult. To acquire the Bilawal and to be able to sing it is very difficult. This is Bade Miya’s training.” Bade Miya means Alladiya Khan.

That to Faiyaz Khan!

Yes, Faiyaz Khan. She said it in front of everyone. Faiyaz Khan was very upset. She was singing and speaking. No one sings the Vilaval usually. Not Ghulam Ali Khan sahib, not Amir Khan – no one. And among those of us who play instruments, Vilayet Khan used to play Imni Vilaval. Alaiya, Imni – three or four Vilavals. And they were not trained under Alladiya Khan. Keshar Bai was a league apart.

Faiyaz Khan was to perform that night. He sang the Darbari. He said, “Begum sahiba, this Dhaibat is very difficult.” Dhaibat and Gandhar. This was the nature of competitions during that time. That volume, that voice, that ‘kharaj’. There’ll never be another Faiyaz Khan again.

 Translated by: Sarbajaya Bhattacharya

 Picture Courtesy: Google

http://www.mohannadkarni.org/memorable-moments-with-kesarbai-kerkar/

http://www.surgyan.com/faiyazkhan.htm

Edited & Designed: Dr. Suranjita Paul

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