Loksangiter Sotero Sarathi by Tapan Bagchi [Hardcover]

This book discusses several lesser-known Mahajans (great masters) in the tradition of Bengali folk music, following the legacy of Lalon, Radha Raman, and Hasan Raja. Figures such as Ashwini Gosai, Mirash Uddin, Abdul Khalek Dewan, and Abdul Hai Mashreki are examined here, and through these discussions, many longstanding debates are addressed and clarified. Notably, well-known Mahajans like Bijoy Sarkar, Hemanga Biswas, Matal Razzak, Khasim Uddin, and Qari Amir Uddin are viewed from fresh perspectives. The book includes not only musicians and composers, but also singers and researchers. The likes of composer Anup Bhattacharya, scholar Abul Ahsan Chowdhury, and renowned folk artists such as Kananbala Sarkar, Bhupati Bhushan Barma, Alam Dewan, Basudev Biswas Babla, Khandakar Mohammad Ali Samrat, and Anima Mukti Gomez all feature prominently in the discussion. Seventeen torchbearers who have enriched—and continue to enrich—the field of Bangladeshi folk music are discussed in detail. This book is a valuable aid to understanding a particular stream of folk music in Bangladesh. Rich with facts, theories, debates, and resolutions, it is likely to be considered a treasure trove for the curious reader. The observations come from a distinguished folklorist and lyricist, offering the reader a distinctive and authentic flavor.