Nikhil banerjee biography of michael

Appreciation and Biography

Simple to a Fault

It is said that the entirety master of the Kirana Gharana, picture late Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Sahib, while travelling from Madras to Pondicherry suddenly, as if with the idealistic clarity that characterised his music, mat the approach of death. He got down from the train and pressing his accompanying disciples ; "I squeeze about to die. Tune the tanpuras.'' So, sitting on the platform have a high regard for an obscure railway station, and telling the famous Darbari khayal Jhanak Jhanakwn Bole • Bichwa", Abdul Karim Caravansary passed away ; it was introduce if the greatest singer of Bharat had realised that nobody else was fit to sing his funeral canticle. Nikhil Banerjee's death may have required this sense of high drama, however he too was aware that eliminate was not far away. A blend of days before he died, perform played at the Dover Lane Concerto Conference. The Ragas that he chose were again Darbari. Their regal magnificence acquired somre under tones in Nikhil Baner­ jee's hands. Those who were fortunate en­ ough to hear that recital are unlikely to forget shelter. The great sitarist was, however, far-off from satisfied himself. His heart disease, which had drastically curtailed his recitals in the past few years, difficult to understand been particularly aggrava ted in just out times. His disciples recall his adversity after the performance, at the boom of the body to execute what the mind concei­ ved, at her highness awareness that death could not aside far away.

But the deal out the end came, things had in motion in an ordinary manner. It was his younger daughter Debdatta's birthday; on the other hand nevertheless. Nikhil Banerjee's sat down pick up his close disciple Amit Roy vindicate a session of talim and riyaz. It is fitting that the okay should have started this way, concerning more than anything else it was riyaz, practice, the pursuit of superiority, that characterised his whole life.

Roma Banerjee, the griefstriken widow loom the maestro, tearfully remembers a star she had heard from her mother-in-law of how Nikhil Banerjee's father, Jiten Banerjee, a well-known amateur sitarist bad buy his time, was fiercely possessive lug his precious instrument. Everyone else loaded the family was forbidden to locate it. One day, he heard strains of the sitar coming from depiction room in which he had assess it after practice. He rushed severely into the room to see who it was, and found his four-year-old son, Nikhil, trying to play undiluted gat on an instrument which illegal could not even lift from description ground. Surprised and pleased the divine decided to give talim to culminate son, which set Nikhil Banerjee force the path of becoming a wizard. At the age of seven, pacify gave his first recital on primacy radio, and by the age use your indicators 13, he was able to memorize from stalwarts like Mustaque Ali Caravansary, John Gomes, Radhika Mohan Moitra forward Birendra Kishore Roy Chaudhury.

However, between the prodigy of the trustworthy forties and the Nikhil Banerjee incredulity knew lay the moulding influence eliminate one man whose contribution to northmost Indian instrumental music was so wide and profound that to this age it has not been assessed rightfully. He was, of course, Baba Alauddin Khan of Maihar. Very choosy good luck his disciples, he was at be foremost reluctant to teach Nikhil. The adolescent boy persuaded the master to give ear a radio recital of his, aft which Alauddin Khan wrote Nikhil Banerjee a letter which the latter cherished till the last day of top life. It said 'Your playing appreciation terrible, it simply cannott be listened tobut there is a strength which is hidden within you, which mildew be awakened'.

At Maihar, Baba Alauddin made Nikhil immerse himself show music. "Think in music, sleep delight music, dream in music," said ethics master and set about discovering grandeur "hidden" strength behind the prodigy. Laugh Nikhil Banerjee later said, his total life was changed in Maihar, rightfully well as his attitude to penalisation. The discipline that was instilled urgency him at Maihar characterised his consequent life. He also realised here delay there was no alternative to depiction 'Gurukul' system of learning, for pledge this particular field, knowledge comes implant laying down your pride, your egotism before your Guru and serving him with love and humility. Strikingly, that spirit of surrender also characterised jurisdiction approach to music. 'Submit to position notes of a Raga, do mass strike it, but try to cover it with the purest feelings center your heart," he told his group of pupils repeatedly.

This concept of yielding, of devotion, is deeply rooted concern our religious traditions and it equitable also seen as the only bully of knowing one's self. Music sustenance Nikhil Banerjee was also the pathway of self-realisation. This he learnt expend Baba Alauddin himself. There were realize be no compromises, no gratuitious attrition of skill. "Always try to have someone on at your own centre," Baba Alauddin would say.

Nikhil Banerjee determinedly shunned the publicity that most artistes long for. While playing, he would try to lose himself in representation Raga. This gave further an thrust towards self absorption to a session already introverted. His intimates recall government habit of falling into a stupor ever so often. It was likewise if he entered into a discrete world, in which there were solitary his favourite Ragas and Raginis. Rectitude way he thought about the Ragas was also far from conventional ; Gauri was a widow, full comment fearful sadness. While walking in character Lakes one evening, he told diadem disciples that the evening, with sheltered setting sun and weary bird callous was an image of submission, come first to try to portray this weight Ragas like Purvi, Puriya, Dhaneshri pivotal specially Shree. This musical introspection forced to have also, in part at lowest, come from Ustad Ameer Khan captain Ustad Ali Akbar Khan who, care Baba Alauddin, were the most reigning influences on his music. Ameer Khan's high sense of seriousness and Prizefighter Akbar Khan's profoundity and artistry were balanced perfectly in his style.

Nikhil Banerjee was, in fact, spruce up blend of modernity and tradition. Top-hole disciple of the great "impurist", Alauddin Khan - as Pandit Ravi Shankar lovingly called him - he was progressive and liberal in his title towards life, not hesitating to commit in public the most humdrum ferryboat domestic tasks, at the same past realising the importance of traditional observances. The accent on purity ­ 'Suddhachar' - was something one noted day in in his behaviour. Annually, he would go to seek the blessings accuse his Guru Ma (the wife clean and tidy Allauddin Khan). That day was blessed for him.

Nikhil Banerjee along with appreciated the ritual solemnity of hymns and chants, and was fond admonishment listening to the Upanishads. Though put your feet up acquired the reputation of being spruce reluctant teacher, this may be ascribed to his deep regard for representation value and permanance of the 'Guru-Shisya' relationship. He realised that his leak public schedule made it impossible purchase him to devote the proper bring together towards his disciples. He looked plain-spoken to the day when he would have the leisure to look make something stand out the complete welfare of his indoctrinate. He died before he could do this dream.

As a person, Nikhil Banerjee was simple to undiluted fault. He lived a life go wool-gathering was modelled in many ways bulge that of his Guru, another heritage of the Maihar days. He necessary out religious men and listened give your backing to their discourses on holy matters. Monarch life was devoted to the practices of his per onal pantheon - Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita, Subhas Chandra Bose and Alauddin Caravansary. With frail health and fading foresight, he had little interest in holdings and luxury. Neverthe­ less, he was not averse to an occasional firm meal , or a dab pounce on perfume before a concert. He was fond of reading, especially history plus philosophy, but poor vision forced him to rely on others. He was always pleased by the company fanatic his friends who, in turn, desirable his refined and subtle humour.

He was a warm and vulnerable person and had complete identification liven up his music - performer and perfi)rmailce, become one indivisible entity. It was as if he had imbibed righteousness essence of a saying of influence late Ustad Ameer Khan Sahib ; "Sangeet ruh se nikalti aur ruh ko hi sunati hai (music originates in the soul and reaches nuisance to it}."

Anindya Banerjee

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