Once Pundit Ravishankar came to our town, Burdwan, when he was on a whirlwind tour across India. As he sat down on the stage and tuned in his sitar, something crossed his mind. He literally padded off the small steps and reached the middle of first row of Aurobindo stadium. The packed stadium saw that Punditji stooped before Dr. Dhrubo Tara Joshi, touched his feet and took him up to the stage. Punditji made Dr. Joshi sit in a chair before him, while he played raga Behag and Majh khamaj for more than two hours in mesmerizing subtlety sitting at his feet. Burdwan witnessed the same when Ustad Amjad Ali Khan played his incredible sarod at Burdwan Rajbati.
Dr. Joshi taught Ustad Vilayat Khan the basics of sitar when the latter lost his father Ustad Inayat Khan quite early in his childhood. Dr. D.T. Joshi never made any mention of it later. If somebody raised the issue, he flew into a rage. Because in his own words, ‘I am the watchdog of Ustadji and am duty-bound to protect his household.’
When present on the dais to receive Deshikottom award from Biswabharati University, Lata Mangeshkar prostrated in full public view before Konika Bannerjee to pay her respect. Lataji pleaded with Konika Bannerjee to train her in Rabindrosangeet for her upcoming album.
Kishor Kumar was initially reluctant to sing “Ki ashay bandhi khelaghor bedonar baluchare..” of “Omanush” fame. He asked Shyamol Mitra, the music director, to approach Manna Dey instead. He felt the song was best suited for his classically trained voice.
Hemonto Mukherjee could not believe his ears that Ghazal wizard Mehdi Hassan would visit his home. ‘Perhaps he’s making some mistakes. It ought to be someone else’s house rather than mine, a minor singer.’ Hemonto told his wife. ‘There’s no mistake. One great is visiting another great’s house.’ Bela Mukherjee had to convince her husband.
In an on-going music reality show, Pundit Ajoy Chakrborty is touching the feet of little participants as he finds in them overarching talent that demands to be recognized that humbling way.
I can go on giving example after example to explicate that pure music means profound respect for each other that is quite uncommon in real life. While paying obeisance to Dr. D.T.Joshi, Pundit Ravishankar and Ustad Amzad Ali Khan never thought that they were far more well-known. Lataji did not think that she was internationally acclaimed while prostrating before Rabindrasangeet exponent Konika. Hemonto conceded Mehdi Hassan’s supremacy in his reactions to wife. Kishor Kumar showed how loftily he regarded Manna Dey. Pundit Ajoy Chakroborty is following their footprints in his own way. What binds these exceptional people together is their total submission to music.
Ustad Bismillah Khan never wanted to settle outside India because he could not think of his existence without the Ganga that passed Baranasi, the town he lived. His shehnai would go limp where Ganga would not stir his melody. Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan could not conclude his programme without an encore of Hari Om Tatsat.
Music is a melting pot of passion emotion and respect. It is the hallmark of humanity. If the humans forget it, they should be provided music, pure music, more and more. Because in music, lies the path to salvation. Otherwise they are doomed to destruction.