The Musical Evening that I can Never Forget

I was euphoric and eager to attend the musical night. It was the year 1964 and I was then an eighth standard student of Dibrugarh Government Higher Secondary School. On my way to school and back I would look at the posters and was determined to make it to the show despite my academic pressures. I knew that my parents would not easily grant permission as the annual examinations were right afterwards. I also realised that the entry fee would also be a hurdle. For a school student to manage such an amount without help from parents would be almost impossible!

I was in a fix...on one hand I had to prepare for my annual examinations and on the other hand I was tempted to go for a great musical extravaganza. The examinations were to start from the 14th of December and the Bhupen Hazarika Night (a dream event for an ardent fan like me) was to take place on December 8th. The musical night had few more attractions like ghazal maestro Talat Mahmood from Bombay, Shyamal Mitra a Singer from Calcutta and a comedian from Bombay known as Johny Whiskey. They were to perform at an auditorium named Sahariya Hall, which was located about half a kilometre away from our school. The hall was being freshly painted and posters were getting pasted on the walls, posts and pillars in and around the vicinity.

I was euphoric and eager to attend the musical night. It was the year 1964 and I was then an eighth standard student of Dibrugarh Government Higher Secondary School. On my way to school and back I would look at the posters and was determined to make it to the show despite my academic pressures. I knew that my parents would not easily grant permission as the annual examinations were right afterwards. I also realised that the entry fee would also be a hurdle. For a school student to manage such an amount without help from parents would be almost impossible!

The day of the musical night drew nearer along with the examination date. On the day before the show, while returning from school I learnt that the entourage of the performers had arrived and they were all stationed at the Dak Bungalow, which was not too far away from my school. Riding on my bicycle I went to see my hero Bhupenda and the other artistes. I wanted to take their autographs.

When I reached the Dak Bungalow, I was apprised by the chowkidar that the entourage had gone out and that he had no clue about their whereabouts. I was extremely disappointed as I had almost reconciled to the fact that watching the musical night would not be a possibility for me either.

I left the place dejected and headed home. On my way back at a juncture called Thana Chariali I noticed a crowd outside a shop that sold Assamese dresses made of indigenous silk for women. It was indeed the group of artists and they were being led and guided by Bhupenda who was helping them to choose items and negotiate with the salesmen. I waited there for sometime and grabbed the opportunity of meeting my hero and even having a small talk with him. I took his autograph and he helped me take autographs from the rest of the artists too.

The day next was the day of the musical evening and my attempt to convince my father in terms of permission and ticket money fell flat once again. He instead urged me to focus on my examinations. In any case, in the early evening I decided to go to the Hall where the show was to be held despite knowing that watching the show would never be possible on my part. I left home with the excuse that I was going to a friend's house to take his help on understanding some mathematical equations.

I went to the hall and stood outside the gate. The gate opened only for those who had the required ticket or pass. The show had infact started with a chorus that was being performed by the local artists from Dibrugarh. After it ended an announcement was made about a dance performance by a local group of children. While the dance performance was on I could see Bhupenda walking around the open space in front of the hall casually with a cigarette in his hand. Suddenly I saw him heading towards the gate. When he saw me standing outside he asked, "What's the matter, why are you here?" He had recognised me and therefore I honestly explained my predicament to him. He thought for a while and then asked the man at the gate to allow me in. Bhupenda led me to the hall inside and put me inside.

For a while, I found it difficult to believe my good luck. But yes, my luck had indeed favoured me and I enjoyed a very mesmerising show.

Bhaskar Phukan

The writer can be reached at bhaskarphukan67@gmail.com

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