Solo Musical evening by Gano Sangeet artiste Ajit Pandey

A charged performance of Gana Sangeet, as it aimed at inspiring people to brave the darkness of society, literally brought light to a load shedding- affected Natmanadal. A solo musical evening by eminent Gano Sangeet artiste of the subcontinent was organized by Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi and the Department of Music and Drama on March 30 at Natmanadal. The event was interrupted by frequent electricity failure right from the start. The enthusiastic audience showed extreme tolerance by staying on at the event till the end, due to the outstanding performance by the internationally acclaimed artiste.

The event started off with the students of the department of Music and Drama rendering the popular number ” Purba Digontey Surjo Uthechhey.” Dr. Mridul Kanti Chakrabarti, acting Chairman of the Department of Music and Drama, delivered the welcome speech. The organizers honoured the seasoned artiste by an ‘Uttario’ and wreath of flowers.

“I came here to attend the Gano Sangeet Festival organised by Udichi. I never thought I’d be so honoured here, especially at the Dhaka University campus, which I respect so much for its history. We Bengalis on the other side of the border look to you for many things, as you have set examples in establishing your language and nationality,” Pandey said, in his remarks.

Born in 1939 in Murshidabad, Pandey was introduced to the classical music at an early age, as his family was a culturally oriented one. Actively involved in politics, he chose to sing for the masses subsequently. He was elected a member in the West Bengal Parliament, and it was at his initiative Calcutta was renamed as Kolkata. He recovered the room of Baker Hostel where Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman resided while he was a student of Calcutta Islamia College and has preserved the place for visitors.

The artiste started his performance with the song ” Janoni Go ka(n)do”, a song written and composed by the artiste himself. Next was a song written in the local language of Churulia, where the Rebel Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam was born. The song,” Dukhu Miah Hey,” was a tribute to the poet. An interactive performer, Pandey made the audience sing the song ” Ekushey February”, following his rendition of the song “Bangla Bhasha Uchcharito Holey.”

“Chasnalar Khanitey,” a song about the explosion in Chashnala coalmine in Jharkhand in 1975 that killed around 400 miners, moved the audience.

His performance included some others of his popular numbers like “Ora Amader Gaitey Deina,” Tumi Jakhon Ka(n)dchhiley, “Amal Kanti Hotey Cheyechhilo,” the Spanish song ” Wantana Meba,” and the celebrated song “We shall overcome.” He also rendered some Tagore and Lalon songs at the event.

by Nadia Sarwat