Pure notes from enthusiastic amateurs

"Gayoki" performers seen at WVA recently

Faria Enam, a student of Public Administration at DU, one of the Uchanga sangeet performers said that she was learning with Durba R. Chowdhury, "Gayoki"'s teacher, for almost three years. Faria said, "I study almost all the genres of the songs available in Dhaka ranging from the classical to the songs of Otul Proshad. I used to study singing as a schoolgirl and teenager but gave it up along the way due to pressure of studies. Also my teacher Ram Gopal Mohonto, who has taught me for five years had died." Faria said that she had no problems singing the large range of songs of the "Pancha Kabi" as once the classic base is established the others are easy to handle. That evening she sang an Otul Prashad's song on raag "Khambaj", Tumi modhur ongey nacho go rongey. She has performed in many of the BUET campus ladies' club soirees. She has had a group performance in BTV and Channel i with the rest of "Gayoki", led by their teacher.

Rifat Rashid, who has been working at the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry since its outset, sings Rabindrasangeet in particular, mastering the classical notes along with it. As a working woman she can sit with her teacher only once a week, along with her daughter Aysha. Rifat said, "I like all types of songs, and I love Nazrul songs along with 'Baul' songs and go in for Jazz too. Rabindrasangeet is not easy to master as you have to understand the words and bring out the essence in your singing. However, the tune is easily accessible to people. "She has taken part in most of "Gayoki"'s performances for the past 12 years. Rifat said that she admired Rizwana Chowdhur, Manobendro, Manna Dey, Hoimonti Shukla and Nilofer Yasmeen.

Aysha, who is due to study in UK shortly after her A levels,is into classical music and Rabindra-sangeet. Aysha said that she has gone into classical songs as she finds them very enticing and intriguing."I find them catchy and vibrant and I study Rabindra-sangeet so as to comprehend Bengali literature in more depth than what the books can give me. She has been learning with "Gayoki" for five years, once a week. Aysha said, "Since I've joined it, this is my fifth performance. At the performances I do feel a bit nervous at the beginning, but as time goes on, I relax and enjoy. On TV, I like Farida Parveen and in classical, I like Mohammed Benu, who performs in UK and is based in Bangladesh. In pop songs, I'm into 'Bangla' with its Lalon tunes. I find my teacher very understanding and patient though she is strict too."

"Gayoki"'s teacher, Durba Chowdhury has her Masters in Music (Rabindrasangeet) from Viswa Bharati, Santiniketan, and did further studies from Allahabad. She said, "My teachers had been Konika Bandhapaddya, Oshish Bandhapaddya, Orup Ratan Bannerji, Gorasharbhadikari etc. My first guru was Santosh Sarkar. I first learnt classical singing and then the songs of other poets -- such as that of Nazrul and Otul Proshad -- with different teachers in Calcutta. Omol Mukopaddya was one of my favourite teachers." She came to Bangladesh as her husband Tapan Kanti Baidya, who is now in USA with the Bangladesh Cultural Centre, is a Bangla-deshi. She has 30 singers in the group who learn once a week, putting in one to two hours each time.

It was heartwarming to find the amateurs performing with admirable sincerity and dedication. Despite considerable time taken up with their other preoccupations, "Gayoki" members did well for themselves.