Rezwana Chowdhury Banya
Encyclopedia
Rezwana Chowdhury Banya is a contemporary Rabindrasangeet singer widely hailed in both her native Bangladesh
and Paschimbanga, India
as being one of the most versatile exponents of this musical genre. She is often referred to by aficionados solely by her nickname Banya, which translates into English as "inundation". She is one of the most acclaimed former proteges of Kanika Banerjee.
, the university set up by Rabindranath Tagore
on his ancestral property using money awarded for his Nobel Prize
. Visva Bharati, to this day, remains a major center for learning Rabindra Sangeet in West Bengal, the other major university in India for this genre being Rabindra Bharati University
. Over the years, both universities have developed distinctive styles of singing in this genre. Until the Visva Bharati's copyright of all of Tagore's songs expired, it was mandatory in India for any singer to obtain permission of the Music Board before cutting a record with songs composed by him. It was no wonder that after Banya completed her initial training from Chhayanot in Bangladesh, she wanted to study at Visva Bharati. However, she recounts that she had no intention of making a career out of music, and rather thought she would return to Bangladesh to get a degree in Economics. In the interim she had been admitted to the Bulbul Academy but her training there was cut short in 1971 by the Bangladesh Liberation War
. Prior to and during the war, Pakistan suppressed aspects of Bangla language and culture. It was only after Independence that Bangladeshi singers were free to pursue this art form with renewed gusto.
At Visva Bharati, renowned exponents such as Kanika Banerjee, Nilima Sen
, Ashesh Bandopadhyay and Santideb Ghosh were her mentors. In her autobiographical account she mentions the respect she had for her mentors at Viswa Bharati, particularly Kanika Banerjee. In addition, she learned other forms of Bangla music such as the folk kirtan and the classical tappa. Among instruments, she can play the harmonium
and the esraj
.
and India
. She also opened Shurer dhara, a school for learning music in Dhaka
. In 2002 she was awarded the first Ananda Sangeet Puroshkar for being the best female Rabindra Sangeet artist, a feat she repeated the following year. She currently holds a faculty position in the Department of Theater and Music at the University of Dhaka
.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and Paschimbanga, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as being one of the most versatile exponents of this musical genre. She is often referred to by aficionados solely by her nickname Banya, which translates into English as "inundation". She is one of the most acclaimed former proteges of Kanika Banerjee.
Tutelage at Visva Bharati
Banya has been singing from a very early age and was born into a bengali and influential aristocratic family. According to an autobiographical account published in an online journal in 2001, as long as she remembered she dreamt of learning Rabindrasangeet at Visva-Bharati UniversityVisva-Bharati University
Visva Bharati University is a Central University for research and teaching in India, located in the twin towns of Santiniketan and Sriniketan in the Indian state of West Bengal. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India...
, the university set up by Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
on his ancestral property using money awarded for his Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
. Visva Bharati, to this day, remains a major center for learning Rabindra Sangeet in West Bengal, the other major university in India for this genre being Rabindra Bharati University
Rabindra Bharati University
Rabindra Bharati University is a university in Kolkata, India. It was founded on May 8, 1962, under the Rabindra Bharati Act of the Government of West Bengal in 1961, to mark the birth centenary of the poet Rabindranath Tagore...
. Over the years, both universities have developed distinctive styles of singing in this genre. Until the Visva Bharati's copyright of all of Tagore's songs expired, it was mandatory in India for any singer to obtain permission of the Music Board before cutting a record with songs composed by him. It was no wonder that after Banya completed her initial training from Chhayanot in Bangladesh, she wanted to study at Visva Bharati. However, she recounts that she had no intention of making a career out of music, and rather thought she would return to Bangladesh to get a degree in Economics. In the interim she had been admitted to the Bulbul Academy but her training there was cut short in 1971 by the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
. Prior to and during the war, Pakistan suppressed aspects of Bangla language and culture. It was only after Independence that Bangladeshi singers were free to pursue this art form with renewed gusto.
At Visva Bharati, renowned exponents such as Kanika Banerjee, Nilima Sen
Nilima Sen
-Early life:Nilima was born as Nilima Gupta in Kolkata, India on April 28, 1928. Her parents moved to Shantiniketan when she was six.She had her education there and completed diploma course in Classical Music & Rabindra Sangeet from Santiniketan.She also did her B.A from the Visva-Bharati...
, Ashesh Bandopadhyay and Santideb Ghosh were her mentors. In her autobiographical account she mentions the respect she had for her mentors at Viswa Bharati, particularly Kanika Banerjee. In addition, she learned other forms of Bangla music such as the folk kirtan and the classical tappa. Among instruments, she can play the harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
and the esraj
Esraj
The esraj is a string instrument found in two forms throughout the north, central, and east regions of India. It is a young instrument by Indian terms, being only about 200 years old. The dilruba is found in the north, where it is used in religious music and light classical songs in the urban areas...
.
Critical acclaim
On completing her training, she became recognized as a master in the Visva Bharati style due to her clean rendition, impeccable accent, and her willingness to tackle even the most difficult and least popular songs. She has traveled extensively and has cut numerous albums in many countries, most notably in BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. She also opened Shurer dhara, a school for learning music in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. In 2002 she was awarded the first Ananda Sangeet Puroshkar for being the best female Rabindra Sangeet artist, a feat she repeated the following year. She currently holds a faculty position in the Department of Theater and Music at the University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
.