A lifetime of preserving Nazrul's music

Sudhin Das and Neelima Das. Photo: Mumit M.

Nazrul Sangeet exponent and artiste Sudhin Das needs no introduction; his contribution in identifying and publishing the accurate notations of Nazrul Sangeet helps a lot to ensure the originality of melody of the genre. His wife, Neelima Das, has never enjoyed mass media exposure but is considered one of the most talented radio artistes of the '50s (Television was yet to come) and has been effectively assisting her husband in the research. In an interview with The Daily Star, this artiste duo talked about their passion for Nazrul Sangeet, life and more.
Neelima and Sudhin got to know each other through music. Neelima's father, the late Sukumar Kar, was the headmaster of the renowned school in Comilla, called Ishwar Pathshala. At a very early age, Neelima was drawn to the magic of music. According to her, “Wherever I heard music, I was glued. My father was also a music enthusiast. At that time no one had heard of radio; we had a gramophone. When I listened to the songs of singers like Utpala Sen, Suprava Sarker, I used dream that one day I too will sing. Our family lived in Brahmanbaria for a few years. There I received my first lessons in music from Ustad Gajendra Roy. It's an interesting story. He was actually teaching a girl, a neighbour, called Maya. Out of curiosity, I secretly watched the taalim. I often approached Mayadi, nagging, to let me touch her harmonium and sing. Gajendra Roy discovered me one day and after hearing my voice he insisted my father that I should learn music.”
Later, in Comilla, Neelima took lessons in classical music from Acharya Surendra Narayan, elder brother of Sudhin Das. Sudhin Das was also his disciple. Afraid of Suren's solemn personality, many of his students including Neelima approached his younger brother to explain some difficult lessons. Neelima showed a clear fondness of the songs, which are known as adhunik. Sudhin was enlisted in Radio Pakistan when he was a college student in 1948. Neelima first performed in radio in 1952, after finishing school.
Sudhin Das reminisces, “In those days, recording for radio was not that easy, we had to stay all day. The journey between Comila and Dhaka was also quite hectic. When I got a cheque for Tk 10, I felt like a prince
-- it was a huge amount for a college student at that time.”
“My father himself took me to Dhaka for the recording. I was mainly an artiste of adhunik songs, there was nothing called Nazrul Sangeet then. The authorities mentioned Kazi Nazrul Islam's name as a composer. I have performed many songs composed by Sudhin Das also,” Neelima said.
Subsequently singers tended to sing the same Nazrul Sangeet in different tunes and Sudhin Das felt the need to collect and preserve the original notations from the records that was released before 1942/'43, before Nazrul's illness, either under his direction or with his permission. Twenty-five among the 31 books on the original notations of Nazrul Sangeet are by Sudhin Das (published both from Nazrul Academy and Nazrul Institute). The 29th and 31st parts are done by Neelima; she is now working on the 32nd edition.
Sudhin Das is a member of the 'Nazrul Sangeet Promanikoron Board', Nazrul Institute (from 1985 to the present). Eminent artiste Laila Arjumand Banu was the first president of the board, which works to ensure the authenticity of the notations of Nazrul Sangeet. Sudhin Das also teaches Nazrul sangeet to the young artistes of the institute. Neelima Das is now teaching at several renowned institutes such as Sangeet Bhaban, Sursaptak and Agni Beena. They are also involved in directing several musical programmes on Nazrul Sangeet on different TV channels.
“The young students want to learn Nazrul Sangeet accurately; it is our responsibility to help them. There are many young talents, but our media seems to highlight only the established ones. If this tendency does not change, how would the young singers demonstrate their talents?” asks Sudhin Das.
About Sudhin, Neelima said, “I am proud to be his companion. He was my guru and I am still learning from him.”
Sudhin Das' response was, “Now, perhaps many don't know who Neelima is but she is one of the most talented artistes in the country. In the '50s, people knew her better than me as an artiste.”
Music means everything to this exponent-duo and they want to continue this journey till death.