Report
The audience
23 April 2009 A Seminar on ‘Esraj in Bengal’
Program schedule on 23 April 2009
Inaugural session
- Inauguration and opening lecture by Professor Karuna Sindhu Das, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, RBU
- Lecture of the Chief Guest Mr. Anup Motilal, Director-Culture, Government of West Bengal
- Opening the Seminar Concept by Professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Director, SMTC-DRLOMI
Session I
- Dr. Pradip Kumar Ghosh on ‘Origin of Esraj & its Development in Bengal’ [talk]
- Professor Sanjoy bandopadhyay & Dr. Krishnendu Dutta on ‘making of Esraj’ [talk and film]
Session II
- Mr. Buddhadeb Das on ‘Development in Esraj Architecture& its Effects in Playing Techniques’ [talk and music demo]
- Ashis Bhattacharya ion ‘Esraj and Rabindrasangeet’ [film, talk and music demo]
- All presentations followed by Q-A sessions.
It was 23 April 2009. There was nothing special in the morning. Kolkata was stable and normal without any event that can take time and special attention. The auditorium at the Sangeet Bhavan was kind of full-house. This is not common for academic seminars here. SMTC-DRLOMI promised in its announcement that there will be Music, Papers and films.
Opening Address by the Hon'ble VC
The assembled audiences saw four persons on stage. Professor Karuna Sindhu Das, Vice Chancellor, Rabindra Bharati University was the third from left and on his right Mr. Anup Motilal, Director – Culture, Government of West Bengal who was present as the Chief-Guest [in photograph at column 4, photo 2]. The others from to left to right were Professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Director, SMTC-DRLOMI; Dr. Pardip Kumar Ghosh [Eminent scholar], and extreme right was Professor Amita Dutta, Dean, Faculty of Fine Arts, RBU. The main session started after the inauguration by the vice-chancellor and chief-guest. The key-concept of the seminar was presented by the Director, SMTC-DRLOMI.
Professor Karuna Sindhu Das, the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor welcome the audience and declared the seminar open after garlanding the photograph of the Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
Anup Motilal, Chairman, Higher Education addressing the audience
In his address as the Chief Guest Anup Motilal described the history of development of Esraj. Professor Amita Dutt, Dean, faculty of Fine Arts, Rabindra Bharati University appreciated the activities of the centre and offered her full support. At the end of the inauguration session Professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Director of the centre, opened up the concept of the seminar. He told that a monograph titled ‘Esraj in Bengal’ will be published as the outcome of this seminar. He also described the work executed during the short period of existence and expressed his gratitude to all especially to the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor for his exceptional support in the functioning of the centre.
In the first session the assembled audience listened to Dr. Pradip Ghosh’s presentation on the origin and development of Esraj. The presentation was focused to Bengal. The students raised queries. One of the students informed the audience about the mention of Esraj in South Indian treatises.
Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, Director, SMTC-DRLOMI
The second presentation in this session came from Professor Sanjoy Bandopadhyay and Krishnendu Dutta as a joint presentation. A short film on Esraj making’ was kept as the central focus. Professor Bandopadhyay described the problems and limitations that the production of the film faced. Dr. Dutta gave a smart presentation telling all the major aspects of Esraj making as he could gather from the team’s short research. The audience enjoyed the film very much and greeted with loud capping and ovation.
After a short recess the final session started. Buddhadeb Das opened his 
presentation with a talk focus to the development of Esraj from the old smaller type to a larger type with many advantages. He explained the changes in the shape and other architectural details. He supported all his raised points through musical demo on the two different types of Esraj. Buddhadeb ended the presentation with a brief ‘Sudh-Sarang’. Dilip Mukherjee provided excellent tabla support. Audiences loved his presentation.
Ashis Bhattacharya with Buddhadev Das on Esraj
The final presentation came from the distinguished Rabindrasangeet singer Ashis Bhattacharya. He started his presentation with a short film that was shot at his residence showing his teaching with Esraj. After the film Mr. Bhattacharya gave an elaborate talk on the use of Esraj in performance and teaching of Rabindrasangeet. He supported all his stated points with music demonstration and musical applications.
Incidentally, Mr. Bhattacharya is now among the few Rabindrasangeet singers
The documentary
that use Esraj during teaching or can sing while playing Esraj. Audiences appreciated his presentation.
The seminar ended with a Vote of Thanks from the Director.
Exchanges during intermission.
