Jugalbandi : The Man and The Music

Sailen Mukherjee (India, 04/06/07)

You have realized my worth after a long gap of 35 years! I am really elated.  In the initial stage you were eager to take possession of me as a showpiece. Subsequently you left me in the custody of others. During the long period of 35 years I was transported from place to place viz. Kolkata, Patna, Konnagar etc., etc. I had to satisfy various masters.

Sometimes I was just left unattended for days in a wretched and dirty corner of a room. My every reed button was played/pushed with unpolished fingers as if I was tortured. My original sweet tune tumbled badly. I had to bear this torturous condition for a prolonged period.

At your young age you didn’t care to feel my agony and pain for being left uncared may be due to your personal problems. In the twilight era of your life you have felt the need of my company to combat your loneliness.  Having developed the feeling of being dejected you consider yourself as mentally and physically unfit for this world. Nowadays none seems to pay any heed to your suggestions and give you much importance as it used to be in the past.  Every door seems to be closed for you in this world. Under this situation you have no other option but to recall my company who being kept neglected for so long had been eagerly awaiting your touch.

Ultimately you have turned towards me. You have now made an attempt to apply your fingers politely/softly on me. However because of your unmindful and rough handling, the strokes you applied on my reeds were very painful in the past. It was like hammering.   As I had been used to such blows from various masters handling me occasionally during my long period of hibernation, I accepted this gracefully.  I had been optimistic that you would change with time.

Oh!  What I observe today! You are not the same as you used to be. Nowadays whenever I beckon you, you graciously sit with me. Morning to evening you crave for my company. You have also learnt the technique of playing the reeds softly with care. It gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction.  I enjoy your presence for which I had to wait long years. Now whenever we play jointly with the help of your soft and touchy fingers a fine tune comes out. Sometimes you do alap with Madhyam, Pancham, Dhaybat and Nishad and sometimes with other Sargam .The alap goes on for a long time. In the evening we often sit together with Iman-Kalyan or Purabi or Bhupali. While doing so we get engrossed ourselves and feel the divine presence of Almighty in every stroke.

May this peaceful and blissful journey with you and me singing “Rag-Ragini” remain forever till death does us part.   

The above write-up is dedicated to my dearest harmonium.

* Jugalbandi means “tied together”