North Kolkata Calling !!

Wonder if someone from the past suddenly appears and does the same thing which he or she had done a hundred years ago-and got recognition, perhaps, worldwide -would at present get  the slightest  of it !! It was very unfortunate for the author to listen to a legendary musician's recording which proved very common in comparison to what he often hears from nowadays musicians !! Recording & feedback system has changed ? What else has changed?

It is said that the present catch of hilsas have become poorer by at least 50,000 tonnes within 40 years.Interestingly Bangladesh's  yield has shown a reversed curve.  Among other reasons the construction of the Farakka Barrage in 1971 is perhaps the most important one -held responsible for the dwindling production. Let us, however, expect that the research programme of Indian Council Of Agricultural Research(ICAR) will give us hope and help to raise the hilsa production in the near future!

One really cannot help but wonder how publishers tackle their bottom line -given the present situation where individual buyers seems to be dwindling with every passing days. It is perhaps true that majority publishers depend too much on various libraries to absorb their out put-but it is equally true that libraries too need  avid readers to upkeep their expenses. We could already see and feel how electronics age is fast becoming irresistible for publishers but the question -Is publishing just like any other kind of so called  business where profit is the main driving force! Will  there be adequate scope for Art to survive in future ?  

There was a time when various agency houses like John Palmer, John Ferguson,William Fairlie etc were doing brisk business in Calcutta ! An urge was felt to set up a ship building dockyard at Khiddirpur. Hence came the first dockyard of Calcutta which was  built by Col Henry Watson, the Chief Engineer of the Company.

It was the first Congress President Umesh Ch. Banerjee who  gifted the Piano to his daughter Janaki Devi .The maker was the famous 'John Broadwood & Sons' of London.It reached  her in-laws house at Islampur and stayed there. The owners (Mazumdar)  sold the ancestral  house and moved to Kalyani. The piano,however, was left behind.At present it is owned by one Narayan Das. Prabir Krishna Mazumdar (grandson of Janaki Devi ) believes that The National Congress Party should take initiative to preserve it ! ( Source-ABP report dt.30/12/12) 

By Saibal Kr. Deb.         Email: allbengalmusic34@yahoo.com All Bengal Musical Conference's first session was held at Calcutta University Senate Hall in the year 1934 in the presence of Rabindra Nath Tagore.It was patronized by Nabab Bahadur of Murshidabad, Maharaja of Kashimbazar, Maharaja of Burdawan, Maharaja of Natore, Gouripur Raj & Birla family members etc. Legendary artists who performed :- (Vocal).Alladiya Khan, Abdul Karim Khan,Faiyaz Khan,Mustak Hussain Khan,Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Kesribai,Girija Shankar Chakraborty, Bhismadev Chattopadhay,Sachin  Dev Burman,Tarapada Chakraborty, Amir Khan etc. (Nritya).Uday Shankar, Gopi Krishna, Birju Maharaj, Roshan Kumari, Damayanti Joshi,Shambu Maharaj, Jay Kumari etc. (Sangat: Tabla & Sarangi).Abid Hussain, Ahmad Jan Thirakwa,Kanthe  Maharaj, Parvat Singh,Hiru Ganguly, Anokhelal Misra,Samta Prashad, Alla Raka,Keramut Alla Khan,Kishan Maharaj,  Gopal Misra, Sagiruddin  Khan etc.    

While listening casually to a sarod recital broadcasting from Kolkata Radio  Station ( Puria Kallyan) today at 9pm-little did I think it was the legendary  Radhika Mohon Maitra ! After the announcement I was a little taken aback. Frankly -I never thought that it was he !! Why is this happening ?