Dr Asit Roy, specialised in Dhrupad – a vocal genre of Hindustani classical music – has been teaching at the department of theatre and music in Rajshahi University since 2001 and currently chairs the department.
Set to perform today at the Bengal Classical Music Festival, the singer spoke to the Dhaka Tribune.
Why do you prefer Dhrupad?
Drupad is one of the ancient styles of the Indian classical music. Without musical ornaments, Dhrupad expresses the natural beauty of Raga. And I prefer that in vocal performance. Dhrupad flourished elaborately in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar. At that time, it was mainstream classical music. It was this style that made the legendary artiste Miah Tansen famous.
Tell us about the current state/future of Indian classical music in Bangladesh,
The popularity of classical music in Bangladesh is growing now. People are going to music festivals and enjoying the soulful music. Audience has been increasing at the Bengal Classical Music Festival every year. So, we can say there is an admiration of classical music in this country.
Who are the audience of classical music?
Tracing back the history, classical music was highly practised in Bangladesh until the Partition. Mostly the zamindars used to patronise court musicians in their royal palace. During the British rule, when the zamindar custom was abolished, most classical musicians migrated to India, and started to practise there. Since independence, the government has been giving scholarships to study classical music in India. And now people are getting institutional training from universities. So, now it is not confined only to elites, it has reached common people.
You teaching classical music in Rajshahi University. Do you think people have a preference for classical music?
As I mentioned before, classical music is now for the mass. If a person has a sense of music, it is a gift from God. A musician who does not belong from a musical family, but has an ability to perceive music, can adapt to classical music. To practice classical music does not require connection with a royal family, or living in the capital city.