Àsit Dey was born in 1966 in Mymensingh. His days in music started back in his early childhood, His father Pandit Mithun Dey, a renowned classical vocalist (Gwalior Gharana) and tabla player (Farrukabad and Benaras Gharana), introduced him to it. In his teenage years, recordings by Ustad Amir Khan playing over the Akashvani radio mesmerized him. Later, his passion for music took him to Delhi-based Shri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, where he started vocal training to Srimati Shanti Sharma. His performances earned him a seat under the tutelage of Pandit Amarnath, the foremost disciple of maestro Ustad Amir Khan. Now, he teaches Hindustani classical vocal at Chhayanaut and in the Department of Music at the University of Development Alternative (UODA) in Dhaka.
What are you going to perform on Friday?
I have not yet decided which raga I will perform. There will be a violin performance before my part. So I will be doing something in synchronisation so that the harmony doesn’t get off. Also the mood of the night will help me decide. What I thought is I might be playing something among raga Yeaman or Purya-Kalyan. Badal Chowdhury will be playing tabla and Bijon Chandra Mistry will be on harmonium with me.
How do you prepare, your voice I mean?
Well, the seasons are changing. So I need to stay alert and take extra care of my voice so that I can perform my best.
What is your evaluation on the audience of classical music in Bangladesh?
The audience here haven’t yet made an ear for classical music. But things are gradually improving recently. Programmes are regularly being organised now-a-days. Yet this Bengal Classical Music Festival is really grand. In fact, it’s one of the biggest ones in the world now. Such shows have an appeal and a regular continuation will help building a strong audience base. Their hunger for good music will increase and that will affect the musicians to stretch their limits. Overall we will get a better generation with better taste.
If you are requested to advise one suggestion to change the scenario here, what would you suggest?
I would suggest for a Government directive, through relevant ministries, to allot mandatory air-time for at least 30 minutes of classical music every week in each television and radio channel. If that can be done, nothing more will be needed to alternate the scenario. Listening to good music will shape the demand for such music. And the ailing genre will get a new life.