North Kolkata Calling !!

.        Basanta Utsav at Chatu Babu              Latu Babu's Jalsaghar on 6th           April 2024. Organised by  :          Saibal Kumar Deb.

The Basanta Utsav, organised by Saibal and Mausam Deb, is being held every year. This year it will be held at Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Bari  on 6th April 2024. The program will be Classical as well as Rabindrasangeet and dance . Since Chatu Babu (Ashutosh Deb) is probably the first Bengali Sitarist- Sitar plays an important role in every program of this house.    Pdt.Ravishankar at Chatu Babu Latu Babu's Thakurbari.

It was an experience that still haunts me!  I was probably 22/ 23 years old when I was passing through a North Calcutta gulee- not exactly a gulee-which had its own character, usually seen and felt during those days. It was around 8pm and quietness descended the place with only a solo female voice  coming from the first floor of a house. During those days flat culture was unknown or little known. The place was peaceful - in fact too peaceful except the voice which poured  into my ears and compelled me to stand still !I stood there motionlessly for nearly an hour listening to that gentle and melodious voice. I presumed the singer to be of my age or proba- bly more. She was a Classical singer absorbed in her Alap along with the accompaniment of her Tanpura ! Little did she felt my lone presence on the street below.I quietly walked away and felt the haunting voice pursuing me throughout the night in my sleep !  The voice melted away in the morni

Who could forget those Classical Music programmes held during Saraswati Puja !! Artists? Pdt. Ravishankar,Ustd. Amir Khan, Ustd. Vilayat Khan, Alla Rakha,Keramutalla Khan, Roushan Kumari, Nazakat & Salamat Ali Khan,V.G.Yog, Ustd.Amanat Ali & Fateh Ali Khan, Ustd. Bade Gulam Ali Khan etc. The tradition of Classical Music Programs still continues-mostly  organised  by Saibal and Mausam Deb of this family.