Q) How did you come to the world of music from the hardcore corporate world and what exactly led you to launch Tabla.Inc?
Like any other Bengali household, music was an integral part of my childhood. Incidentally, the great sitar maestro Pt. Nikhil Banerjee was our neighbor and we were very close to them as well. His visits to our house and his words inspired me, influenced me as I used to learn Sitar from the tender age of five.Our family was a great connoisseur of classical music and we had some of the great musicians visit our residence and had been our guests. I was a national scholar of music, both in the senior and junior groups and a stage performer. By the time I was in University, I established myself as a music critic and a journalist in one of the leading newspapers. Alongside I was performing regularly as a sitarist in the concerts.
In the later part of my life, I got into the corporate world and that journey started with ITC Sangeet Research Academy. I am ever grateful to my mentor, who is almost like a father figure in my life, Padmasree Pt. Vijay Kumar Kichlu for taking me under his fold and taught me the nuances of the corporate world, when I started working in ITC SRA, Kolkata. I learnt the finer nuances of the corporate world with the finesse of the cultural world and that really changed my vision for life. Since then I have worked in several corporate houses throughout my life but music was always my first love as I inherited the passion for music, grew up with music and later came to such a family after my marriage where music is the ultimate.However I saw the struggle and challenges, a young musician faces because I have seen Tanmoy pursuing classical music as a career and I saw the ups and downs and the signs of uncertainty of the future during the initial days. Tanmoy somehow was lucky enough to get the blessings and guidance of the legends of Indian classical music. I believe he, being such an outstanding student and practitioner of music, came into the notice of those great maestros and his hard work got acknowledged and gave him the opportunity to perform worldwide, that includes some of the greatest names of Indian classical music, that everyone knows. The concept of Tabla.Inc (Tanmoy & Bonnya Liberal Arts )was there in my mind that I would like to do, as I always thought of doing something generous for the next generation of performing artists; not just classical music because of our varied interests in cinema, theater, literature, fine arts, and so on. I saw that the young artists, almost from all the faculties, face the same problem during their initial days when they actually need the support of the seniors for their growth. So, that is how Tabla.Inc came into my mind and I started brainstorming to discover the ways to create a platform that would be unbiased and promote the musicians and budding talents who are really good irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and all other factors of discrimination. I firmly believe that tabla.inc is not just about “us” (Tanmoy and me). It is for and about “all of us”, by “all of us”- it is an inclusive journey. I get great support from our students, their parents, our seniors and everyone around us- they always do whatever best they can do, many times going beyond their limits, to support our foundation and help us profoundly keep the Tabla.Inc family growing. So, in a nutshell, Tabla.Inc is a platform for all aspiring performing artists. I had the knack of curating events and had been doing so since when I was in college .Hence for me the passion continues…..
(Q)How old is Tabla.Inc and how has the journey been so far?
Tabla.Inc is just three years old and the journey has been quite a topsy turvy one. The challenges I faced establishing the concept and giving it a practical picture was a fabulous journey by itself. But the challenges remain and I am sure I will learn every moment as I give it the finest shape as planned.
Q) What was the idea behind Tabla.Inc and to what extent the goal has been achieved?
I always dreamt of doing something to preserve the cultural heritage of India. From music to fine arts, handicrafts, theater to performing arts, it’s an ocean of treasure we have. Tabla.Inc is that platform through which that mission of mine is getting fulfilled. The Bengal folk fraternity is very rich and I look forward to doing my best for them too. Also, setting up an academy for the youths, mentoring them and enabling them to enhance their potential and opening the array of opportunities for showcasing their talents, are some of my major objectives. Alongside, organizing workshops and seminars for in-depth knowledge on music and other performing arts and its regular updating is already in the pipeline.
Yes the goal is dynamic and is being achieved with each of my successful ventures.
Q) From Shuruyaat to Utsav and Sadhna to Jalsa, Tabla.inc organises different events. Tell us about them.Alongside handling the major tasks of Tabla.Inc are as follows:
Organizing “Jalsa” sessions throughout the year in different locations of Bengal. Jalsa is a session by the notable performing artists of this time. Jalsa sessions are already happening throughout West Bengal and are self-sustained.
- Shuruyaat , is a series of performances by the young students and are attended by the student fraternity. It is being broadcast both online and offline according to the seniority of the students.
- “Naari” is a programme that I host every year with the young talents and celebrity performers of music, dance, drama, paintings and other notable women of the society combined. Last was held with the title “Meds and Muse” at another venture of mine, Wasabee.
- “Art-Retreat” has already started in 2022 and it’s a workshop based programme under the mentorship and guidance of Tanmoy himself. Imparting the inclusive learning practice among the young participants by Tanmoy himself through practical learning sessions amidst the lap of nature.
- “Rang”, started in 2022 is organized during the time of Holi to celebrate the colourful aspects of life through Music and Art. It’s a 2-days’ programme that is generally held in a place amidst nature, in the lap of greenery, outside the city.
- “Sadhna”, a quarterly newsletter, is being published by Tabla.inc on a regular basis. The subscribers of this newsletter receive updates about Tabla.Inc events and latest happenings of the cultural world.
Q) Tabla.inc has organised a lot of events during this year. What else can we expect in the remaining year?
Yes am so happy with the way I could march with the events.
This year we shall have Karigar Haat alongwith AIM spearheaded by Sonali & Gopal Poddar which will showcase handicrafts from all over the country and Jalsa series in the evenings covering Indian Classical Music, Folk, Theatre and a plethora of musical presentations .
3 more Jalsa and Shuruyaat concerts
Utsav the annual cultural festival will be happening early next year. The festival will host musical concerts. It will feature performances of great musicians from all over the world. The festival will also be enriched by a plethora of seminars, workshops and symposiums.
This year end the second chapter of Art Retreat shall again showcase the rich heritage of our state.
Rang will happen during Holi.
Creating a digital platform for global interactions and communications for the cause. Optimizing the usage of social media platforms and AI enabled systems of seamless operations by experts.
Working on organizing monthly cultural workshops, ranging from Indian Classical and Folk Music to Puppetry, Theatre, as well as Painting and Sculptor. Utsav is going to be the annual cultural festival hosted by Tabla.Inc and that will feature the musicians across the globe. Not only music but also dance, painting, theater and some other art forms will be performed on stage. Besides all these, an international competition organized by Tabla.Inc named Paravarish, which will promote young artists and help them nurture their talent under the guidance of maestros. The preliminary round will be held online, after which the selected participants would be assembled together in a venue for the final round of judgment, where they will present their music in front of the legends. Being a part of the society, I feel it’s very much needed to stand beside those who need some support. I wish to extend our hands to financially help the artists who faced an economic loss due to the recent pandemic Tabla.Inc would like to help them economically by providing them a suitable platform.
Q) What are the plans of taking Tabla.inc beyond Bengal?
The work is now based in West Bengal and it has been started with a view of expansion all over India. The pan India programmes will have events like, Jalsa, Shuruyaat, Art Retreat, Rang and any other new projects that may start in future. I am already looking for the art and music enthusiasts who will be collaborating whole heartedly with a view of preserving and continuing the Indian heritage. We are already in discussion with organisors in other states.
Q) Your children are not into hardcore classical or folk music. In spite of that you are promoting the cause. What exactly plays in your mind to create this space?
Yes I am doing it all the more since both my boys are into a separate space of music altogether. They are paving their own respective journeys and by god’s grace they are in the right direction. But I personally feel responsible for the placements of students who are so ardently practicing the rich heritage of our country.
Q) So you don’t believe in nepotism?
I do believe in nepotism of quality performers.
Q) Any message to society?
I WANT MUSIC, DANCE AND THE WHOLE GAMUT OF CULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO BE LABELLED AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE TOWARDS THE NATION.
