Sound of Kharagpur

While returning from Brahmakumaris' centre on Rakshabandhan evening, got stuck in one place at bungalow-side near railway station. Few snapshots at the end of the video shows what the place looked like once upon a time (1938-1940). I shall write about this old Kharagpur town later. Coming back to present time, there was ceremonial parade on the road. And true to Kharagpur tradition (Kharagpur town, different from IIT Kharagpur) there was loud-speaker and music. And the tune that was played made me feel that I am frozen in time. This is the Kharagpur of my childhood in railway quarter of old settlement area (Link). The same song that was one of the most popular at that time is played with similar musical accompaniment. A short clip was recorded and is available as background music :-) of following video.

We used to have full volume music in our locality on all occasions - for birth, death, marriage, retirement (not exaggerating!), all social, religious functions  for family and youth clubs. It included lottery draw and orchestra nights on make-shift stage.True to its cosmopolitan nature, we had such occasions almost everyday. Every year one company used to come with traveling kiosks and stationed in the ground in front of our quarter. For about a month they used to play loud music and sell cloths to customers, "Cali Cloth asuchi / Koun koun anuchi / Shirting anuchi, Suiting anuchi ..(Cali Cloth has come. What are the things brought? Shirting, suiting ...)" Once my chemistry private tutor of class XI-XII who used to stay at IIT side came to our quarter. He got scared how I could study with loud speakers blazing like that. It was all but practice. I would rather say, my concentration increases if songs are played in the background :-)

The following are some of those sounds of Kharagpur that I grew up with and that make me feel nostalgic.

The original Sambalpuri song that I heard minimum 500 times and relived in it on 22nd Aug. evening.

The famous Bagh / Sher (Tiger) dance during Mata Puja.

The Ravana Pora (burning) is still one of the biggest event (another link).

We stayed next to Bara Maszid (three tombs in the google map of 1st video) and grew up listening to beautiful azans. The following rendering, the voice is similar to what we used to hear everyday.

Attended many such kirtans with my mother in Bhowanipur, Subhaspally area.

Finally, the sound of mela - this year's Rathayatra Fair.

And Bengali version of following prayer and Swadesh Mantra of Vivekananda every afternoon at B.N.R. ground before P.T. and play.