A group of talented and enthusiastic Bengalis came together recently to showcase an impressive array of activities spanning Tagore’s music, dance, theatre and art.
Rabindranath Tagore is not just a name, but an emotion for Bengalis across the globe. One believes whatever the stage of life you are in, every moment resonates with Tagore’s creations, thoughts and work, that have lived through decades, inspiring generations.
Established by the late Tapan and Gairika Gupta in 1965, the UK’s oldest Bengali cultural organisation, The Tagoreans, celebrated golden jubilee during 2015-2016. On Sunday 2 July 2023, they had put together a programme at The Bhavan called ‘Once Upon a Time’, presenting songs, dances, live opera, recitations, and readings. The programme was one of the finest cultural productions, I have witnessed in recent years, telling the stories about who we are but without a hint of exaggeration or over-dramatisation.
The stage came alive by the beautiful singing (and drama) by Atrayee, Bithi, Dolon, Jyotsna, Krishnakoli, Madhubanti, Madhusree, Manoshi, Soma, Sohini, Sujoya, Jayanta, Partha, Satipada, Suman, Tathagata and Sasha (or Aniruddha) and equally graceful dances by Alinda, Ishita, Sayoni, Senjuti, Sreeparna, Alina, Ashmita, Debdatta, Dina, Mahika, Jannatul, Jessica, Prapti, Sanvika and Shrinika.
Though the acting in the dance-drama ‘Stories from Indian mythology’ was impressive by singers Sasha (Balmiki), Sujoya (Goddess Lakshmi) and Soma (Goddess Sarswati), they did not seem very natural at it, and came across slightly hesitant and abrupt. In the same section/chapter, the energy in dancers Jayanta, Partha, Satipada and Suman were palpable, but there was a moment of over enthusiasm – nonetheless immensely enjoyable.
Introduction and narration by Jayanta, Manoshi, Madhubanti, Dolon, Godhuli, Partha, Avimanyu and Shreyosee brought to life the power and magic of stories that defines our culture, traditions, values, and beliefs, while child artistes Srestha (singer) and Samaira (dancer) were notable in their roles.
The event was planned, coordinated and managed by Manoshi and Jayanta effortlessly, while a wide ensemble of talented singers from the UK and India were led by Sasha.
Music was presented by Subrata (Keyboard), Aniruddha (Tabla and Khol), Tirthankar (Esraj) and Kingshuk (Mandira and Percussion) and choreography in group dances was the brainchild of Sreeparna and Suchismita.
The programme was divided into five parts or chapters. While the first half focussed on stories in songs and poems, the post interval show was about stories from Indian mythology and stories inspired by Shakespeare and Lewis Caroll.
Second-generation Bengalis talk about traditions and roots through Tagore’s work
Sasha, or Aniruddha Ghoshal, is a second-generation Bengali, born and brought up in Toronto, Canada. He moved to London to pursue a career in music theatre and graduated with distinction from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with an MA in Music Theatre in 2016.
Sasha who now lives in Britain, continues to teach Rabindra sangeet (Tagore’s songs) both online and offline to many second-generation Indians across the world. Speaking about holding on to traditions with a responsibility to reach out to as many people as possible, he said “I very much believe that we should stick to traditions and maintain the integrity of Rabindra sangeet. At the same time there is the responsibility to reach as many people as possible because the art is about connecting with a wider audience.
“In fact, I was the first person to sing Rabindra sangeet in ‘Someplace Else’, Kolkata. I want to continue teaching Rabindra sangeet, and work on transcreation and translating Tagore’s works for which I have been collaborating with various artists and researchers - for example, Dr Mathew Pritchard at the University of Leeds. I look forward to continuing working with the Tagoreans in promoting and propagating Tagore’s philosophy and I hope these works can ignite a spark that can go beyond the Bengali diaspora.”
Award winning and critically acclaimed writer, playwright and dramatist who has been writing for the stage, radio and TV for over 30 years, Tanika Gupta MBE’s parents founded The Tagoreans. Tanika who has been, a member of The Tagoreans by birth, speaking about her parents’ devotion to Tagore’s work said, “My parents were very keen to keep Tagore alive. That’s why they set up the Tagoreans. They used to put on dance dramas, take them around European continent – those were my earliest memories in the back of a minibus, going to Austria, Germany, Sweden to perform with a group of other Bengalis.”
Tanika’s own early works were adaptations of some of Tagore’s most seminal literary masterpieces, specifically ‘Red Oleanders’, was the adaptation of Tagore’s Rokto Korobi for Radio 3 and ‘Home and The World’ – was the adaptation of Tagore’s novel Ghore Baire. Her first ever stage production was ‘The Skeleton’ was inspired by a short story by Tagore.
In 2017 while curating the Festival of Independence at Shakespeare’s Globe, celebrating 70 years of India’s independence - Tanika was pivotal in commissioning a performance by The Tagoreans as part of this iconic, prestigious festival – thereby ensuring the works of Tagore, the Bard of Bengal were presented for the first time at the famous Globe Theatre.
Dancer Alinda Barua has been born and brought up in Britain. An architect by profession, she started learning dance at a very young age. She said, “Tagore has been a constant in my life. As a young girl Ma, Manoshi and baba would listen to Rabindra sangeet in the car and home. I loved learning dance steps to phuley phuley at our community shows and would listen with solemnity with the Brahmo samaj congregation to Tagore’s devotional hymns.
“But for me a pivotal moment came in my twenties when The Tagoreans did a show at Dartington Hall in 2011 to celebrate Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary. The moment perfectly crystallised his deep philosophy, humanity, connection with nature and educational ambitions for all. He was a pioneer.”
