A Performance Beyond Borders in Banaras

The terrace of the Brijrama hotel overlooks the River Ganges and the setting was just right with the full moon shining above, and guests seated to enjoy the ecstasy. The occasion was the observance of the third residency by an organization titled 'Art beyond borders', the main organizer being Sandhya Singh Parmar. Sandhya hails from Lucknow , India and has spent more than 25 years living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Six Bangladeshi artists Jamal Ahmed, Moniruzzaman, Farida Hasan,Vineeta Karim, Ranjit Das and Sultan Ishtiaq have been invited alongside the maestros from India Jatin Das, Sudip Roy, and Radhika Surana. Her effort to bring the Bangladeshi painters to the forefront is taking its shape and this year three Nepalese artists were also included. She hopes that soon it will turn into a SAARC event.

The first artist for the evening was Anjana Roy from Kolkata, a student of Pandit Ajay Chokroborty who began her repertoire with raga `Maru Bihag' in Vilambitand treetal, followed by tarana and then a bhajan.

Next on stage was Bangladeshi academician come singer Dr. Nashid Kamal who enthralled the audience with her first song, the famous Nazrul Shongeet 

`Poddar Dhure' in Bangla followed by Hindi translation. Then she sang `Ja Ja Re Pagal Manwa' a bandesh in rag Yaman ,teentaal learned from her Guru Pandit Jasraj. This was followed by two Urdu ghazals as per request `Aj Jane Ki Zid Na Karo' (which made headlines the next day) and `Woh Mujhse Huye Hum Kalam'. 'Sreejono Chonde Anonde', another Nazrul song was followed by Naser Kazmi's ghazal `Tere Kheyal Se', and then her Hindi bhajan `Sumeeran Kar Le, Mere Mana', ending with  the famous Bhatiali of Abbasuddin Ahmed 'O Amar Dorodi Age Janle' (with Hindi translations). The audience was simply spellbound. The priest from the temple nearby brought her the 'rudrakkher mala' for her on the stage. He said, 'In your songs, we got both sur and shanti'.

By Avicenna