kekadhhoni: Band Of Brothers

kekadhhoni: Band Of Brothers:  If one walks down from the College Street bus stop towards Chittaranjan Avenue, the Long rows of Band Party shops will definitely catch ...

Band Of Brothers

 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.