<i>Popularising, promoting and teaching Tagore songs</i>

REZWANA Chowdhury Bannya is undoubtedly one of the leading Tagore singers in the subcontinent. Regularly performing on TV and at concerts in Bangladesh, Bannya is equally popular in India and among the Bengali expatriates living in the US.
On her current affairs, Bannya informs that she is working on her PhD under Dr. Mridul Kanti Chakroborti and Professor Anisuzzaman. Title of her thesis is Rabindra Sangeeter Dui Parbo: Nodir Teeray Ebong Shushko Matithey.
“My PhD thesis features a compare and contrast of Tagore songs composed in the riverside areas of Bangladesh and in Shantiniketan, India. For the thesis I've been in India for a while. Apart from the study on Shantiniketan, I'll do another research based work for an Indian TV channel,” she said.
On the TV show Bannya informed that the programme is a chronological survey of Tagore songs that interrelate between Tagore's compositions and his life. Bannya added, “I came up with the idea for the 52-episode TV show. I'm working on the research and the script for the show. I have to submit everything by next February.”
Moreover, Bannya has a busy itinerary for performing Tagore songs at several programmes in India for six months. The artiste said, “In India I usually perform in Kolkata, Delhi and Ahmedabad. I've selected musicians in Kolkata, who accompany me at the concerts. I'll also record an album under the banner of HMV on the occasion of 'Panchishey Boishakh'.”
Impress Audio Vision will also release an album in Bangladesh on Tagore's birth anniversary. Moreover, another album will be released in the US. Eighty albums of Tagore songs rendered by Bannya are available. According to her, “Tagore songs still maintain an undeniable appeal.”
However, Bannya, an Associate Professor at the Department of Theatre and Music, University of Dhaka, is not satisfied with the current state of Tagore songs as an academic subject in Bangladesh.
She said, “Because of the enrolment process, we don't get genuine talents as students at the university level. Those who do enrol as students of music, are beginners. Most of them are not committed. Some continue studying in the department just to be able to claim themselves as 'Dhaka University students'. An apt examination system should be introduced so that we get students who have a sound background in music.”
“Then there are other issues. The environment is not at all accommodating for the study of music. We don't have rehearsal rooms. Students face problems when rehearsing at the dormitories,” Bannya continued.
The seasoned artiste claimed that potential students go to private schools run by renowned Tagore singers. Why don't we hear accomplished new voices that often then? Bannya replied, “There are quite a few young talents in the country. But, they are yet to attain popularity amongst the masses, as they don't get proper breaks on TV and radio channels. Private TV channels air a few talent hunt programmes but classical, Tagore and Nazrul singers don't get a fair deal in these shows, as do singers pursuing adhunik, pop or rock music.”
Bannya conveyed that she dreams of a school that will be like no other.
“Children will study art at the residential school. Besides conventional schooling system, they will be able to study art forms in the midst of nature,” she hoped.