Jogesh Chandra Bharali: The Epitome of Rich Assamese Folksong

Jogesh Chandra Bharali, the great master of age old Assamese folksong (loka-geet), was born in 1910 at Barpeta into a family traditionally engaged in the handicrafts of pottery and toys made of fired clay. He inherited from his parents deep interest in music along with poverty. His father took part in musical parties called ‘baithaki’ ritualistically held on the occasion of wedding ceremonies in early part of the twentieth century at Barpeta. His mother was a ‘Pathakani’ who was famous for her rendering of Vaishhnavite religious songs. All these played as the anvil for making that Jogesh Chandra Bharali who would one day place Assamese loka-geet in the national level on a high pedestal. His dexterity was acclaimed early by such maestros as Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.

In the natural ambience of rich musical legacy, both religious and secular, at Barpeta, Bharali became familiar with musical instruments like dotara, ektara, khunjuri, dhuluk etc. early in his adolescence. Barpeta of that period was connected to East-Bengal by water transport. Barpetians exchanged with Bengal not only business but also rich traditional culture. Under such circumstances the inborn talents of Jogesh Bharali bloomed to its full.

When Jogesh was seventeen, a team of artists from Benaras visited Barpeta and performed Ramleela for long one month. Bharali got close to the manager of the team--- Chabilal Misra. Misra included him into the team as an accompanist. When the team left for Benaras, Bharali too stole away with them without any knowledge of his elders in the family. In Benaras, the cultural city of India, he learnt Raga-Sangeet for about two years.

In 1935 he went to Kolkata. There, in Kali Film Studio, he played on dotora for the recording of a ’Bhatiali’ song sung by the great musician and composer S.D.Barman. Greatly enthused by his enthralling voice, B.D Cheterjee, the Managing Director of famous Megaphone Company, recorded his loka-geet “dehar bhrasa nai…..” It was his first recorded song.

Jogesh Chandra Bharali is the first Assamese folk singer to have broadcast loka-geet through radio. There was no All India Radio (AIR) station then in Assam. Only, there was a brief slot of half an hour for Assamese programme to be broadcast from AIR, Kolkata. While another talent from Barpeta, Dayal Chandra Sutradhar sang Borgeet first from AIR, Bharali did the same for loka-geet. After his loka-geets earned popularity through AIR, Kolkata, HMV, the famous recording company came forward to record two of his songs. They became so poplar that HMV was pleased to pay him a high amount as remuneration.

Later, the tune of his famous number—“ghan barasun pisal mati….” was directly imitated, without permission, by famous music director Naushad Ali in one of his songs in the reputed film ‘Mother India.’ As suggested by his well-wishers, Bharali sent a legal notice to ‘Mehboob Pictures’, the producer of the film. Naushad eventually made apology and paid rupees two thousand as compensation and thus settled the matter.

The life of this versatile singer was full of financial hardships, which he was never free from all through his life. He tried to make both the ends meet by working as music tutor and part time teacher of music in different colleges in Shillong. He also worked in a temporary job in the Department of Cultural Affairs for some time. As a whole, he died poor, as was born, but left his surroundings richer with his insurmountable numbers. In this birth centenary year of the great artist, Rangghar, Barpeta deems it proud privilege to dedicated 23rd Rangghar National Theatre Festival to his memory.