Category: Music

Music

Guitar-Happy Guy with a Mission: To Enrich Kids Musically

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH At first glance, Subhashish Ghosh comes across as the quintessential friendly neighbour—polite, helpful, and always ready to lend a hand. Rarely seen without his beloved guitar, he treats it as an extension of himself, a lifeline that fuels his passion. Though he earns his livelihood in the corporate world, Subhashish lives and breathes music. Hailing from a modest middle-class family in the … Continue reading Guitar-Happy Guy with a Mission: To Enrich Kids Musically

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Music

Nilannjana Ghosh: The Flame of Music in Her Heart

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH (Fourth in the series on prominent vocalists in the National Capital) They say, “Charity begins at home.” For Nilannjana Ghosh, replace ‘charity’ with ‘music’, and you have her fascinating story. A Musical Lineage Nilannjana’s first brush with music came from her father, Manoj Kumar Mondol, and his musically gifted family. Her grandmother was a Western music singer, her grandfather an accomplished violinist, … Continue reading Nilannjana Ghosh: The Flame of Music in Her Heart

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Music

Barnini Sen: High Optimism About  Past, Present & Future

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH This is another installment in our series profiling prominent female vocalists who have made the National Capital their home. I first encountered Barnini Sen at a musical soirée organized by the local Bengali community. Later, I had the pleasure of hearing her perform at a women’s cultural club we both frequent. Music came to Barnini as naturally as breathing. Growing up in … Continue reading Barnini Sen: High Optimism About  Past, Present & Future

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Music

Music Is the Food of Love for Kaushiki

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Kaushiki Deb grew up surrounded by dozens of musically devoted uncles and aunts—a testament to the sprawling extended families typical of India. One of her fondest childhood memories is singing in the dark with relatives until the power returned. Though her father was a doctor, and she was expected to follow in his footsteps, young Kaushiki was drawn irresistibly to vocal music. … Continue reading Music Is the Food of Love for Kaushiki

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Music

Aparna Lahiri: Music on Her Mind

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH As a member of the vibrant cultural scene in the National Capital, I have had the pleasure of interacting with many highly talented individuals deeply immersed in music. These passionate women share a profound love for vocal music and much in common. All hail from ordinary middle-class backgrounds, with music running in their veins—thanks to parents or close relatives well-trained in the … Continue reading Aparna Lahiri: Music on Her Mind

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Music

Preserving Tagore’s Musical Legacy for Posterity

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH Once upon a time, there was a little boy who was passionate about music; in fact, music ran in his veins. His late father, a flautist, had been a close associate of the legendary Sachin Dev Burman. Throughout his childhood and formative years, this young boy took music seriously. He learned to play the piano and briefly studied the sarod under the … Continue reading Preserving Tagore’s Musical Legacy for Posterity

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Events, Music

A Musical Extravaganza in the Indian Capital

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH This winter, music lovers and culture enthusiasts in New Delhi and its surrounding areas were treated to a spectacular mega musical event during a chilly mid-November weekend. The inaugural World Music Concert was organized by the Bengal Association, an autonomous body dedicated to preserving Bengali language, music, and cultural heritage for millions in the diaspora. The venue for this grand occasion was … Continue reading A Musical Extravaganza in the Indian Capital

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Music

Exploring Tagore’s Realm of Love

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH The Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is to Bengali literature what Shakespeare is to English literature. Dislodge both, and their magnificent edifices would come crumbling down. It would be no exaggeration to say that Tagore’s versatility and the vast range of themes he addresses often leave readers and audiences overwhelmed—or, to use a colloquial term, mind-boggled. His subjects span the changing seasons, lyrics … Continue reading Exploring Tagore’s Realm of Love

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Interviews, Music

A Baul in a Metro 

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH ‘What was a  Baul (wandering minstrel) doing on the premises of  JNU,  an internationally acclaimed varsity in  the Indian capital?’ I wondered, a little flummoxed, ever since I read and heard of him.  My doubts were dispelled when I watched him perform at a public function a few weeks ago. The gentleman who goes by the name Shambhu Nath Sarkar, is middle aged, bespectacled, sporting a headful of curly hair. It was amazing to see him … Continue reading A Baul in a Metro 

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Music

Musical Milestones: Two Nightingales Turning 100

BY RUCHIRA GHOSH For all lovers of Tagore’s musical creations, the departing year (2023) will go down in history as a memorable one. By sheer coincidence, two doyens of Rabindrasangeet stepped into their centenary years in the last quarter of 2023. On October 12, a cluster of singers, musicians and music lovers from Kolkata and the rest of West Bengal mustered strong at Santiniketan, Bolpur, (WB) to … Continue reading Musical Milestones: Two Nightingales Turning 100

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