Remembering Pandit Mithun Dey

Laaya, a Dhaka based cultural organisation with the goal of promoting classical music, organised an event marking the 33rd death anniversary of classical maestro, Pandit Mithun Dey on Thursday evening at Mymensingh Zila Shilpakala Academy auditorium.

Classical artistes Asit Dey, Priyanka Gope and Avijit Kundu performed different ragas like Miyanki Malhar, Yeamon, Maru Behag and Bageshree at the programme. A duet performance of sitar on raga Yeamon by Nishit Dey and Shamoya Dey, grandsons of Mithun Dey, enthralled the audience. The artistes were assisted by Prashanta Bhowmik on tabla, Alamgir Parvez on pakhawaj and Tinku Shil on harmonium.

A discussion meeting was held earlier, remembering Mithun Dey and his contributions to classical music. Eminent cultural organizer, Professor Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan, classical maestro Pandit Sunil Dhar and tabla maestro Pandit Pabitra Mohan Dey, the youngest brother of Mithun Dey, took part in the discussion surrounding the life and work of the late maestro.

Sanjib Dey, the eldest son of Mithun Dey chaired the event, while Sarwar Jahan anchored it. Nurul Alam, director of National Science and Technology Museum and ustad Shahabuddin Khan were present, among others.

The speakers lamented on the fact that during Mithun Dey’s lifetime, they could not pay him the due respect that he deserved.

The speakers also remembered some of the artistes contemporary to Pandit Mithun Dey, who also enlightened Mymensingh with their classical talents. They are - Bipin Das, Badal Chanda, Jamini Pal, Upendra Roy, Bijoy Bhattacharya, Kenu Roy, Keshob Bhattacharya, Anil Talukder and Narayan Das, among others.

Mithun Dey, son of Piarimohan Dey, a prominent clarionet player, was born in Mymensingh city’s Akua area in 1917. After losing his father at the age of 12, he started his career at the state of the then Muktagacha Zamindar Maharaja Shahshikanta Acharya Chowdhury as an accountant. During his service, he came across the great classical artiste, Proshun Bandapadya and started taking lessons from him on classical music.

Mithun Dey, a trainer of Shilpakala Academy, Chhayanaut and Udichi in Dhaka mentored multiple artistes, who are now prominent in their respective fields. Some of them are, Milati Mukharjee, Yakub Ali Khan, Ava Alam, Fatema Tuz Johra, Rawshan Ara Mustafiz, Parvin Mustari, Professor Sumita Naha and Sumon Chowdhury.