Narrator:
[The sound of a conch shell being blown]
Interviewer:
Gurudev, pranam.
Gurudev:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam.
Interviewer:
Gurudev, today is Guru Purnima. Many people have come here today to show you respect and perform puja. In this setting, we have someone special sitting beside you. She is a singer who specializes in classical Raga-based songs. We've seen her perform many times. Today, she sang for the Mother here. You heard it, and we all heard it. We saw that you were so moved and happy with her singing that you placed a garland on her. Please tell us about that.
Gurudev:
Yes, it was the Mother's garland. I just placed it on her. She had come here once before and told me in front of the Mother that she wanted to sing for Her. Following that promise, she said she would sing on Guru Purnima. She came and sang, and the Mother listened. She sang several songs. Although her voice isn't at its best right now—it's a bit strained because of the weather—she sang beautifully for the Mother. She sang my favorite songs, like "Kota Bhabatara Durgatihara" and "Ma Go Amar Apar Sansar Nahi Para Par." Listening to these songs always brings tears to my eyes. She sang Ramprasadi songs. She is a disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and has learned music from him. She has a great voice and also performs on television.
Interviewer:
We'll hear more from her now. Namaskar, Didi.
Indrani Suryatapa:
Namaskar.
Interviewer:
How did you find Gurudev, and could you please introduce yourself to the audience?
Indrani Suryatapa:
I am Indrani—my voice is quite strained right now—known to most as Indrani Suryatapa. My name is actually Indrani Mukherjee, but in the world of music, I am known as Indrani Suryatapa. This name was given to me by the very popular Nachiketa Chakraborty. When I started performing with him and working on his albums, he suggested this name.
Indrani Suryatapa:
Anyway, today was very emotional for me. Even before I started singing, I had tears in my eyes. I am so overwhelmed. I couldn't have imagined singing today because my voice has been in a very bad state for several days now. As Baba mentioned, I've been having a lot of trouble with my throat. I'm taking medication, and it gets better and then worse again. Even yesterday, I wasn't sure if I could come to the Mother's temple and sing in front of Baba. How I managed to sing, I really don't know. Perhaps it's the grace of this sacred place.
Indrani Suryatapa:
I am a devoted follower of the Mother. I worship Her at home in whatever way I can. I had heard about this place many times before. Many people from the music industry have come here and found peace and blessings. A member of my family lives nearby, and I told them that the place where they live is very famous. It's where the disciple of the revered Bamakhepa, our Shyama Khepa—whom everyone knows by this name—resides. I told myself I must go to Gurudev, and if I had anything to say or learn, I would find the answers there. I had planned to come many times, but as they say, timing is everything. Without the right time, nothing happens. Right, Baba?
Gurudev:
Yes, nothing happens without the right time.
Indrani Suryatapa:
Truly. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't make it here before. Perhaps it was destined for me to be here today, by Baba's immense blessings. I must say to everyone, if you haven't visited this place, you are missing out on something significant in life. As an artist, I can say that most artists are spiritually inclined. We cannot think of music without the Divine. Music is a form of meditation. My Guru, Vidushi Shipra Bose, used to say that if everyone could sing, it wouldn't be special. Singing is a blessing from God. It is a medium through which we can practice spirituality. We might not know many mantras or rituals, but through music, we can connect with the Divine.
Gurudev:
You sang with the voice the Mother gave you. She gave you the tune, and you sang it for Her.
Indrani Suryatapa:
That's true. There's no other explanation.
Gurudev:
She gave you the gift, and you offered it back. Without Her grace, you couldn't sing. I love music, especially Ramprasadi songs.
Indrani Suryatapa:
I was amazed. Baba was telling me that he would listen to my songs on Guru Purnima, and while sitting there, he recited so many Ramprasadi songs one after another. His memory is incredible! It was getting late, but I wanted to write them all down and take notes from him.
Gurudev:
You sang "Kota Bhabatara Durgatihara." It's a song close to the soul. And "Ma Go Amar Apar Sansar Nahi Para Par." These are my favorite songs.
Gurudev:
[Gurudev starts singing a few lines] "Ma go amar apar sansar nahi para par..."
Gurudev:
When you sang this, it touched my heart deeply. Tears came to my eyes. Then you sang "Kota Bhabatara Durgatihara, koto dine tor koruna hobe."
Gurudev:
[Gurudev sings a few lines of the second song]
Gurudev:
These songs have such deep meaning. If one understands them, they are extraordinary.
Indrani Suryatapa:
I want to learn more Ramprasadi songs from you. You mentioned so many that day.
Gurudev:
I have a large collection of rare Ramprasadi songs. They are beautiful and bring peace to those who listen.
Indrani Suryatapa:
That's another thing I want to tell everyone—if anyone wants to know about Shyama Sangeet or Ramprasadi songs, come here. This man is a living encyclopedia, a dictionary.
Gurudev:
What can I say? I just love Ramprasad. People call me a powerful Tantrik, but I don't say that myself. People come here from all walks of life. I also highly respect Kamalakanta Bhattacharya. His songs are rare. I have a few of his songs and even a rare picture of him. Let me show you.
Gurudev:
[Gurudev shows a picture]
Gurudev:
This is Kamalakanta Bhattacharya. I have great respect and devotion for him. I feel I must have done some good deeds to be in his presence.
Indrani Suryatapa:
Look at the radiance on his face! It's amazing.
Gurudev:
Regarding Ramprasad, I have visited his home and his birthplace, Halisahar. People there showed me great respect. I've received love and respect everywhere. I just want to spend the rest of my life like this.
Indrani Suryatapa:
Your presence is a blessing for thousands of people. You are their guide and support, even if you don't realize it yourself. So many people come to you with their dreams and their busy, troubled lives, seeking guidance.
Gurudev:
It's all by the Mother's will. I don't turn anyone away. They come by Her command.
Indrani Suryatapa:
And the way you give Her blessings through you is truly wonderful.
Gurudev:
Thank you. It was a pleasure. Truly a pleasure.
Interviewer:
Dear viewers, you just heard the conversation between Gurudev and Didi. You can surely feel the depth of Didi's talent and Gurudev's blessings. Gurudev honored her with a garland. We have recorded a song she sang today, and we will share it with you in this video. We conclude for today. Pranam, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, Baba. Pranam.
Narrator:
[Indrani Suryatapa performs the devotional song "Ma Go Amar Apar Sansar Nahi Para Par" accompanied by a harmonium and tabla]
Narrator:
Lyrics Summary (English Translation): O Mother, my worldly life is an endless ocean with no shore in sight. I am lost in this vast world, unable to cross to the other side. O Mother, You are the savior, the one who removes all miseries. Please guide me through this cycle of life and death. My days have passed in vain, without true devotion. O Mother, deliver me from this worldly bondage.
Narrator:
[The video ends with a brief candid moment on set]
Spiritual Insight
Guru Shyama Khyapa's celebration of Guru Purnima with renowned singer Indrani Suryatapa reveals the profound connection between music and devotion. The conversation highlights how Ramprasadi songs and Shyama Sangeet serve as a spiritual medium, bringing tears of devotion even to the Guru's eyes. Indrani's emotional journey—from uncertainty about singing due to throat issues to being blessed by the Mother's grace—demonstrates that true artistic expression comes from divine will, not mere technical skill. Guru Baba's encyclopedic knowledge of rare devotional songs and his deep respect for poet-saints like Ramprasad and Kamalakanta Bhattacharya shows that the path to the Divine can be through music as much as through traditional spiritual practices.