MUSIC IS AN OCEAN: KUMAR BISHWAJIT

How did you venture into up in the music world?
Bishwajit: My mother wanted to see me become a singer. Those days, a music teacher used to come to our home to teach my sisters. I would wake up to the sound of music playing in the background. Baul singers often visited our home too. Listening to the music, I dreamt of becoming a singer. Later, a music teacher named Tejen Sen was given the duty to give me vocal training. 

What challenges have you faced in your three-decade long singing career?
Bishwajit: When I started out, things were not as easy as they are today. When we started off, we could not dream of being professional singers. We sang songs with passion and dedication. We had to struggle a lot to pave the way for a brighter future. Newcomers today have it easier as they are following in our footsteps.'

When did you get your first pay, and what was your first big purchase with money you made from music?
Kumar: I got Taka 5 singing songs at a refugee camp. Then when I earned a few hundred, I bought a black and white television. The TV is still at my home.

Which song put you in the spotlight?
Bishwajit: The track - “Tore Putuler Motho Kore Sajiye”. Ever since, I have never had to look back. We recorded the song at Lucky Akhand's house in the late '80s. There are many stories behind the hit.

What is you view of the newcomers in the music industry? 
Bishwajit: They are doing very well. I'm very hopeful about their success. I just want to say one thing to them: Don't take up music purely for fame and fortune. To master music requires perseverance. 

What's your most memorable moment as a singer?
Bishwajit: Once I went to New Jersey for a stage show. During the show, I received a phone call from my wife back in Dhaka who told me that my son Nibir was in ICCU with head injuries. You can imagine my plight as a father. But I went on with the show. After the show, I told the audience about what happened. They were surprised that I had remained calm through it all, and many of them burst into tears.

What's your dream about your son's future?
Bishwajit: I just want to see my son become an honest and educated person. Now he learns the piano and if he wants to enter the music world, he is free to do so. He may well share the stage with me a few years down the line.

Is music just another form of entertainment?
Bishwajit: No. It is a creative media. Music played a great role in our Liberation War, Language Movement and even anti-tyranny movement. It is a very powerful medium. It even can even act as a medicine for critically ill patients.

You are one of the best-known singers in our country. When you look back on your journey, how does it make you feel?
Bishwaji: Music is an ocean where I'm just a drop of water. It is tough to be a completely satisfied singer. So, a little bit of dissatisfaction is necessary to go forward.