Rezwana Choudhury Bannya on receiving her doctorate degree

Eminent Rabindra Sangeet exponent Rezwana Choudhury Bannya recently received her doctorate degree from University of Dhaka, after 10 long years. Dr Mridul Chakraborty, Bishwajit Ghosh and Professor Emeritus Anisuzzaman were her supervisors throughout the course.

The title of her PhD thesis was, Rabindra Sangeeter Dui Parbo: Nodir Teeray Ebong Shushko Matithey. Her thesis features a compare and contrast of Tagore songs composed in the riverside areas of Bangladesh and in Shantiniketan, India. It emphasises on two important episodes of Rabindranath Tagore's life.

Bannya received her training at Shantiniketan from eminent Rabindra Sangeet artistes, Kanika Bandyopadhyay, Neelima Sen, and Shoilajaranjan Mazumdar, among others. She is a disciple of Kanika Bandyopadhyay, who had inspired her to form a Rabindra Sangeet school, Shurer Dhara, in Bangladesh.

"I started my PhD thesis under the guidance of Mridul Chakraborty," shares Bannya. "After he passed away, I finished it under Bishwajit Ghosh, Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University. Dr Anisuzzaman was also my guide, and now, my work is complete. I am ecstatic about this achievement, and to be able to fulfill this dream."

Bannya also shares her gratitude towards her family members. Rabindranath Tagore and his songs have been the biggest inspiration behind her thesis, and she hopes that her work will be useful for the newer generation of Rabindra Sangeet singers.