The final 'tehai'

KOLKATA: He lived like a king and went like a king as well. That’s how legendary tabla player Pt Shankar Ghosh’s daughter-in-law danseuse Jaya Seal Ghosh described him after he expired on Friday evening at a hospital in South Kolkata. Ghosh was 80 and is survived by his wife vocalist Sanjukta Ghosh and son percussionist Pt Bickram Ghosh. Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia said, “Today morning, I heard about Mrinalini Sarabhai’s death.She passed away on Thursday. And now, I heard this news. I have played with him in so many concerts both in Kolkata and in other cities. It is a huge loss.”
The flautist only echoed what many in the world of Indian classical music felt ever since news of the maetro’s demise after 40 days of being in coma broke out. They unanimously agreed about his immense contribution to the world of music and the enviable legacy that he has left behind as a guru. As the legendary musician left for his final concert in a celestial abode, his admirers aptly said the mortals’ loss was paradise’s gain.
Tabla player
An exponent of the Farukabad gharana, many believe that tabla in Bengal has been defined by the maestro. Yet to come to terms with his personal loss, son Bickram said, “Tabla is indebted to him. In this generation, most of the top tabla players of our country are from Bengal. Baba has students in every continent across the globe. His kind of tabla playing has been an inspiration for all.” Describing his father on stage, Bickram said, “He was an incredibly sensitive player. We have all marvelled at the experimentations that he did and the maths that he explored while composing. It is important to see the way Baba had expanded the subject.” Pt Anindya Chatterjee, who too has fond recollections, said, “He was the best guru I have seen in the music world after Pt Gyan Prakash Ghosh. From Bickram to Arup Chatterjee, from Parimal Chakraborty to Tanmoy Bose – all were his disciples. His playing style changed over the years. In the 70s, I was awestruck by his clarity and speed. I liked the way he introduced new techniques during accompaniment. Later on, I liked the richness of bol-bani and compositions.” His newphew, Pt Swapan Chaudhuri said, “In the early 60s, I had the good fortune of listening to his concerts in Kolkata, Allahabad, Maihar and Delhi. He was a regular at the Tansen Festival, the Sadarang Festival and the All India Music Conference. I still recall his recitals with Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan at two separate concerts at Mahajati Sadan. What concerts they were!”
Composer
One of the most talked-about qualities of the maestro was his skill as a composer. Said Pt Tejendra Narayan Mazumdar, “He played with me for my first major concert at the Park Circus Music Conference. He gave me so many compositions. A particular composition of his in raag kirwami is something that I play even today,” he said. Even his first drum orchestra – Music of the Drums – has been an inspiration for many musicians till date. The drum orchestra was conceived in 1976. “Baba even had a three hour-long show of it at the Royal Albert Hall. It was also performed at the finale of the 82 Asiad. In 1996, the drum orchestra was revived again. Baba took drum orchestra to a different level where he used different talas even while achieving rhythmic harmony,” Bickram said. His stint at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California gave him a huge exposure to Western music. Mazumdar added, “That helped. Shankar-da had used many Western instruments. Since he had a lot of exposure in the West, he used that in his compositions too.”

Sarod Player
Very few people know that the maestro was an accomplished sarod player too. Said Chaudhuri, “In sarod, my uncle, Pt Shankar Ghosh, was a ganda bandh shagird of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. I have heard him play the sarod. Needless to say, he was fantastic at it too.” Mazumdar too has very fond memories of him as a sarod player. “Since he played the sarod so well, he also made some excellent compositions.”
Singer
Not just tabla and sarod, he was also an accomplished vocalist. Said tabla player Pt Subhankar Banerjee, “Since I have learnt vocal music for 15 years, I know it is not possible for him to compose this way unless he knew vocal music very well. I have often seen him singing. Sometimes during recording, he would often explain by singing the relevant portions.”
Author
But music alone was not his playing field. The legendary musician was also a man of literature. Not just treatise in tabla, he even wrote stories. “Baba had a knack for writing. He has written some great short stories too,” said his daughter-in-law. Pt Swapan Chaudhuri seconded the view, adding, “My uncle had such a passion for writing. He wrote novels as well!”
For the music world, his demise has created a void. As the music fraternity bid him adieu for his grand concert in paradise, many admitted that they would live with another regret. The maestro, who was blessed with so many skill, didn’t get the recognition that was due to him. For someone with such an immense contribution to music, it would have been an honour for the Padma awards had it been bestowed on him.