If one walks down
from the College Street bus stop towards Chittaranjan Avenue, the Long rows of
Band Party shops will definitely catch the eyes. Old and young men, especially
from the lower strata of the society dressed in colorful and gaudy outfits with
huge brass instruments, sitting on the shops, ready to entertain.
One such shop is Calcutta Band, just two or three shops
behind the famous Mahmood Band Shop, famous for being one of the oldest in the
city. Md. Akhtar, twenty year old Son of Akhtar Bhai, clad in a yellow Kurta with a dab of fresh black surma on the lower eyelids, narrates
the present scenario of their business and whatever history he knows about the
profession. Akhtar adds, “My great grandfather was the band master in the 60s
and 70s and later with the lineage, Akhtar’s father and his brothers had taken
up the profession of playing the huge brass instruments eventually.
It’s been ages and many of the band party members are there
for two or three generations. Shakib and Zaheer , both in their late 60s, looks
on while Md. Akhtar Jr. , discloses history and facts about them. “Most of the
music players are extremely poor and they are mostly from Bihar and Jharkhand”
adds Akhtar , while discussing what kinds of people consists of the band
members. He continues, “They had come to Kolkata from different parts of Bihar
and have been doing odd jobs until they found their real calling- that of a
band party player.”
The name Calcutta Band was undertaken in the 80s when Md.
Akhtar’s father, who was then a band master bought this shop on rent and
started his own Band ‘tasha’ party in erstwhile Calcutta. He had been on the
helm of the shop. However, things have changed;
the band party business has seen a steep downfall in the recent past due to
various reasons. Most of the band party shops on the M.G. Road are now rented
out or are on contract basis.
There are around twenty old lean weary bodied men who work
in Calcutta Band. Md. Akhtar describes, “the band members are the support
system and they are the ones on whom our business is totally dependent.” Although the revenue generation is not that
fulfilling, Akhtar says, “Whatever we charge, out of that we distribute 75
percent to the tasha members and the
rest is spent on shop rent, electricity and various other maintenance charges.”
Therefore the income from the profession is not much. “My grandfather used to
charge 700 to 900 rupees during late 70s and now we charge around 3000 to 5000
rupees,” continues Akhtar smilingly, “Not much of a difference has come over.”
Montu , a 64 year old bass player who has worked in Calcutta
Band from 80s shared his musical experience. He recalls, “I have always wondered
why I remained a band member and did nothing else. Something else could have
fetched me more income, but I know playing my bass and watching people rejoice
a happy moment is way better than earning huge money.”
The band party business has been a part of non –Bengali
Culture but not a tradition of the State. Md Akhtar says, “Punjabis and Marwaris
in the city hire us on wedding parties and receptions, while the Bengali does
not really relate to our way of playing a band in the weddings or any auspicious
occasions.
However, Band party remains an integral part of Kolkata when
Montu says, “Durga Puja Bhashan is incomplete without us, at various famous Puja
Organisations and we also play in various Juloos(Processions)
such as Holi, Diwali and others.” Even
though Band party or Tasha party is a great way to make joy and have a musical
experience not many Bengalis relate to them.
Dr Saptarshi Basu, Organizing Secretary of Ballygunge
Cultural Association, proposed his thought, “ Band party is not really an
essential part of our Ballygunge Association Durga Puja as we strictly stick to
the traditional Dhaak music. I like
it when I see them perform in a friend’s wedding or reception, but being a
organizing secretary I have a responsibility to keep up the taste and Bengalis
simply do not prefer Band party or tasha parties even during the bhasan (immersion of the deity) as it
does not match with the traditional traits of the Bengali Culture.”
Playing in weddings have lessened in recent past and Montu
shared a funny anecdote, “ only reason we don’t get to play in the weddings is because young girls and boys do
love marriages and they elope; arranged marriages call for great celebrations
and that we get to earn a lot. These youngsters should understand our businesses
too as their parents spent lot more than what we ask for.”
Shakib is a shy boy of 17 and he loves to play the trumpet.
“I have learned from the seniors in the band and they have taught us how to
play a trumpet or the bass, flutes and drums.” The party members are trained in
such way that they can play any of the musical instruments. “ I have taken up
trumpet playing since I love the look of the instrument and also when I play
it, everyone, especially the kids and young girls look at me in awe that pushes
me to do better.”
Band Parties are considered a great way to enjoy and have a
gala time during the weddings, not only in Bengal but also in other parts of
the Country. Shivam Ram, son of Mangat Ram from the famous Shiva Band in
Ludhiana has thrown light to a different aspect in a band party
performance. He says, “Be it buying a
new car to babyshower, Punjabi Celebrations are incomplete without band baaja
party, madamji.” Shivam laughs and adds, “happy occasions without loud trumpets
and bass, will that sound or look good, I can only wonder.” The rates differ a lot in these two states,
where these Punjabi band party charges 7000 to 8000 rupees per occasion, a
maximum of 3000 is charged here in Kolkata. Songs of Gurdas Mann to Daler
Mehndi are the famous picks for Punjabis. Whereas bollywood songs are
considered the trend in Kolkata.
Mustafa Akunji who works for Alimuddin Band narrated his 16
years experience. Dressed in white kurta) pyjama , Mustafa informs, “ We not
only perform for Bengalis in Durga Puja Bhashans(immersion), but also for
Gujratis, Punjabis and Marwaris.” He finds it really nice to make people happy
and rejoice with the songs, music and beat as he adds, “ People in Bengal are
very enthusiastic even though they are a bit miser when it comes to paying us
tips and bonuses.” Mustafa says, “ There are about 20 musicians in his shop and
Pappuji, our boss is a great man, as he makes sure each one gets to eat at the
end of the day and because of his kindness and caring nature, the almighty has
bestowed us good business every now and then.”
Alimuddin Band is famous in the neighbourhood for travelling
to various places in the eastern part of the country. Mustafa Akunji recalls, “
We have performed in various parts of Odisha since 1997. Various organizations
and wealthyfamilies have had hired us for weddings, receptions and even pujas
such as Laxmi puja.” While talking about these short tours, Mustafa couldn’t
hold himself but share an extremely peculiar incident, “We travel a lot and
during the winters of 2007, we were supposed to perform for the wedding in
Bonga and Chandipur. When we reached the bride’s place, we saw women crying and
a quaint situation prevailed. On questioning about it, we were informed that
the bride has run away with her lover and we were left aghast. From that
wedding we had returned with only half the charge, only to lessen the bride’s
father’s pain a little.”
Prosenjit is a young man of 23 and he loves playing the
Bass. He has also received training from the mentors. Ram Chandra, a native from
Bihar has taught Prosenjit the right notes and the knick and knacks of playing
them right. Prosenjit informs, “ all of us who came to Kolkata had been novice
with less or no experience at all; however here in Alimuddin Band, Pappuji, the
owner makes it sire that we get proper training and rehearsals are regular for
better performances every time.”
“There has been an old notion that the band party members
used to get intoxicated with a dose of alcohol in order to get more energy on
the instruments, such things do not hold much truth,” adds Rabin, another band
party member from Alimuddin band. He continues smilingly, “ those who hire us
will either kill us or else the reputation of our work will go down in gutters,
if something like that ever happened. We have to be in senses madamji,
otherwise how will we manage to hold on to such heavy brass instruments?”
The business of a band party seemed bleak and only seasonal;
the enthusiasm of these odd men from various eastern parts of the Country
seemed high. Nothing could break them or hinder their wish and yearning to make
people happy with their musical delight. With low maintained uniforms and age
old brass instruments these men gets ready to entertain. For these men, for
these bands, the show must go on.
