One evening in springtime, Rabindranath was singing one of his compositions. His father, Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, was mesmerised by his voice. As Rabindranath started singing at meetings and gatherings, his fame grew rapidly. At every symposium he attended, the audience would request him to sing his own songs, those which unfurled the collective mystery of creation, illuminating the desires of love. Rabindranath’s nephew, Abanindranath Tagore, described his voice as a fusion of a thousand singing birds. His compositions were unique and had a soulful touch that resonated with his listeners. Rabindranath said, “I wonder as I listen to these songs…. I do not know where they came from.…as if they settled on their own in my voice, and I have sung them naturally, and they grew into songs.” His compositions were timeless, and they touched the hearts of people from all walks of life, as did the song Amaro Porano Jaha Chay from the dance drama Mayar Khela.
Lyrics:
আমার পরান যাহা চায় তুমি তাই, তুমি তাই গো।
তোমা ছাড়া আর এ জগতে মোর কেহ নাই কিছু নাই গো॥
তুমি সুখ যদি নাহি পাও, যাও সুখের সন্ধানে যাও–
আমি তোমারে পেয়েছি হৃদয়মাঝে, আর কিছু নাহি চাই গো॥
আমি তোমার বিরহে রহিব বিলীন, তোমাতে করিব বাস,
দীর্ঘ দিবস, দীর্ঘ রজনী, দীর্ঘ বরষ মাস।
যদি আর-কারে ভালোবাস, যদি আর ফিরে নাহি আস,
তবে, তুমি যাহা চাও, তাই যেন পাও, আমি যত দুখ পাই গো॥
English translation:
You are what my heart desires
You are the one, only you
In this world, apart from you,
I have no one, I have nothing…
If you are not happy, set out in search of joy.
Since I have found you in my heart, I seek nothing more.
Pining for you, in your absence,
my heart will remain lost in you.
Long be the day, long be the night
Long be the months and years that go by.
If you love someone else,
if you do not return to me,
even so, may you have your heart’s desire,
May all the suffering be mine.
Some useful information:
Written in: December 1888, at Darjeeling
Age of the poet: 27
Published in: Mayar Khela (Dance-Drama), 1888.
Parjaay (Category): Prem (Love)
Upa-parjaay (Sub-category): Bichitra (Miscellaneous)
Taal: Tritaal
Raga: Pilu
Notation: Sadhana (1891); Geetmala; Mayar Khela Notation Texts;
Swarabitan: Vol. 48 (Mayar Khela)
Notation by: Indira Devi
Purpose of the presentation
Tagore’s music resonates with people from all walks of life. His songs are performed at cultural events, religious ceremonies and social gatherings, reflecting their enduring popularity. In an effort to bring home this treasure trove to the non-Bengali population and Bengalis around the globe, Brainware University offers a selection of Rabindra sangeet in this presentation. It is enriched with details on the songs and relevant anecdotes.
Sung By
Sri Phalguni Mookhopadhayay Chancellor, Brainware University
Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is the founder-Chancellor of Brainware University, founder-Chairman and Managing-Director of Brainware Consultancy Private Limited and founder-Chairman of Webguru Infosystems Private Limited. He did his schooling at Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Narendrapur, and graduated with honours in Economics from St Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He completed his masters in Economics from Calcutta University and MBA from IISWBM, before joining Hindustan Lever as a management trainee. He worked as a market planner for the ABP group for nearly a decade before striking out on his own and successfully launching two private limited companies and one University. Phalguni Mookhopadhayay is a self-taught digital artist, a versatile photographer, a filmmaker and a weekend singer who has already recorded 78 songs and is now immersed in a project to popularise Tagore songs among a global audience.
