Nishit Dey, the grandson of noted guru Pandit Mithun Dey is a veteran Sitar player of the present time. His creative finesse is evident in classical music. Promity Rahman from Bangladesh Post had a conversation with Nishit dey about his musical sojourn.
BP: How did your musical journey start?
Nishit dey: It was in 2003 when my journey into the realm of classical music started through learning tabla. From 2005, I started playing Sitar under the supervision of my Guru Sheikh Sattar of Imdadkhani gharana. After his demise in 2009, I started training with Pt Ashim Chowdhury who is considered as one of the finest sitar players of India, based in Kolkata.
BP: Being an instrumentalist and expert in Hindustani Classical music, how would you differentiate between Hindustani Classical music and Western Classical music?
Nishit Dey: In both the respective genre, you need to build your own expertise so that you can improvise your ability through music. In Hindustani Classical music we have Ragas, which has certain emotions and as an instrumentalist we need to explore that emotion through our playing where the Raga-Rup is more important than the techniques. In Western Classical Music the main focus is on the techniques. Hindusthani Classical music is vivid, unbounded in its verse. On other hand, Western Classical music is composed bounded in its verse - in my assumption.
BP: What is the present market condition for classical musicians?
Nishit Dey: Just a decade ago classical music was not so popular amid youngsters. But the "Classical Music Festival" held in 2012 had changed the music taste of our youth. Today’s youth are very much enthusiastic about classical music.
BP: What step can be taken to popularize classical music among a greater number of audiences?
Nishit Dey: Music is not a physical product with objectively measurable benefits. It is an experiential productand its perceived benefits are intensely personal and subjective. However, in order to popularize classical music among a greater number of audiences, media should promote more programme on Classical music which will enrich our culture and for us it is our duty to preserve the heritage and carry away the Guru- Shishya parampara of Classical music for the future generations.
BP: Share your musical achievements and others musical memories?
Nishit Dey: I feel proud to say that I was the only ambassador of young classical musicians of Bangladesh. My first solo sitar performance in Europe was is one the great achievements I ever have had. Also I cannot forget the memories of participating in the Bengal Festival as the youngest sitar player in 2014.
BP: How your musical idols and gurus inspired you?
Nishit Dey: Being inspired by Ustad Shahid Parvez and Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee my journey with the strings of sitar boarded. But my playing and perception took a huge turn when I met my first guru Sheikh Sattar Mohammed.
BP: Any suggestion for the new classical learners?
Nishit Dey: Young generation should know what they want to do in the future and pursue their dream and ambitions with utmost effort. Dedication is the key to the success. Practice in a right way, follow your Guru whole heartedly and adopt the skill of listening good music which will sharpen your musical skills.
