A piece of proud History!! The BOSE AUDIO

 

Perhaps the biggest contribution of Kolkata Police (earlier, Calcutta Police), to the world, is in the field of High-end Sound Systems and Advanced Auto Suspension technology the BOSE.

This story is from the year 1920.

Mahatma Gandhi had declared the Non Cooperation movement. There was excitement & fervour in the air. A lot of young Indians took part in peaceful demonstrations, across India.

One of those young Indians was a boy studying Physics in Calcutta University. His name was Noni Gopal.

Young Noni took part in a small but loud demonstration against the British Rule, near Elgin road in Calcutta. He was also the person, who wrote the pamphlet against the British Rule, distributed by the protestors that day.

Young Noni had his final exams in 2 weeks. After the peaceful protest - he returned back to his home and was studying in his room, when Calcutta Police decided to change the history of Audio Industry for the rest of humanity.

They came to Noni’s house and arrested him.

He was duly presented to a Magistrate the next morning and sent to Prison.

He missed his exams. A few days later, while being taken to the courts for a subsequent hearing, along with a few other under-trial revolutionaries, Noni managed to escape and run away.

With the help of a few friends, relatives and well-wishers, Noni reached Madras(Now Chennai) , and manage to board a Ship sailing to America.

Young Noni Gopal reached Ellis Island near New York with an equivalent of just $5 in his pockets and no identity papers. Those were different days - he was welcomed in.

There was an active community of Indians including the likes of Haridas Gayadeen, Sailendra Nath Ghose, Sarat Mukerjee and the famous Taraknath Das, of the Ghadar Party in North America - who helped young Noni settle down in Philadelphia.

Noni started a small Radio Repair shop and fell in love with a local school teacher by the name Charlotte. She was an American of French-German descent and was interested in the Vedanta philosophy. They got married.

Life went well - Noni continued to support the activities of the Indian revolutionaries back home in India.

9 years after Noni escaped from Calcutta Police,in 1929 - Noni & Charlotte had a son - they named him Amar.

 Amar grew up in a household that valued education - as a kid, he loved tinkering in his father’s Radio repair workshop.

Amar went on to study at MIT - and become an assistant professor there after completing his PhD.

As a professor - Amar was granted a few patents in areas including Loudspeaker design, which eventually became the basis of his new start-up.

This small start-up, founded by the son of an Indian fugitive and revolutionary with virtually no money, went on to become a global brand, directly employing over 11,000 people, making Amar the 271st richest man in the world.

His brand was loved by the likes of Steve Jobs, and his products are used around the world in Concert Halls, Music Studios and even public institutions like NASA, The Vatican, the American House of representatives and the Parliament of India.

This is the story of Indian Revolutionary, Late Shri Noni Gopal Bose and his son, Late Dr. Amar Gopal Bose of the

 

Bose Corporation.

 

Had the British Controlled Calcutta police not jailed a young student of the Calcutta University in 1920 - perhaps the world would’ve never got this:

 

 

Thank you Kolkata Police…:

Anthony Gonsalves

Those who have been Amitabh Bachchan Fans, how can they forget the cult movie “Amar Akbar Anthony” and hum along the song “My name is Anthony Gonsalves”, where Amitabh Bachchan comes out from an Easter egg. But did anyone know that initially the character which Amitabh Bachchan played was named Anthony Rodriguez and not Anthony Gonsalves.

When Manmohon Desai was making the film  “Amar Akbar Anthony” in 1977 ,  The character of Amitabh Bachchan was initially names as Anthony Rodriguez. Later at some stage, Pyarelaal, the music director of this film renamed this character as Anthony Gonsalves paying a tribute to his violin teacher and mentor.

Anthony Prabhu Gonsalves (12 June 1927 – 18 January 2012) was an Indian musical composer, music arranger and teacher born in the village of Majorda (near Margao in Portuguese Goa), who during the mid-1950s, attempted to merge the symphonies of his Goan heritage with the Hindustani melodies and rhythms in films of the day. He found his first job in the city as a violinist in the group of the composer Naushad in 1943. He taught Pyarelaal Sharma of Laxmikant-Pyarelal team and has worked with most of the legendary composers of the 1950s and 1960s. He worked with B R Chopra (Naya Daur) and Chetan  Anand (Haqeeqat).

Gonsalves is also a mentor to the late Rahul Dev Burman and Pyarelal of the Lakshmikant-Pyarelal team - stalwarts of the golden age of Hindi film songs in the 50s-70s. At 83, Gonsalves  was awarded the Karmaveer Puraskar, a national people's award during 2010  at the 41st International Film Festival of India in Panaji, Goa's capital, before he left for heavenly aboard in 2012.

Gonsalves quitted the film Industry in 1965 and went to America for some research work on music. Later, even after he returned from America a decade later, never swung his baton again. In fact, he scarcely bothered to let his former colleagues know that he was back. Musicians in Bombay and Goa, many of them insisted that he was still in America – if indeed he was still alive.

Gonsalves played a variety of Instruments like Guiter , Violin , flute etc and it can be well estimated how talented he was when his name is associated with R D Burman and Pyarelaal Sharma as their music teacher and Mentor.  It is unfortunate that many people are unaware of this character in Indian Music and Bollywood movie history . We Pay our gratitude to the legendary Pyarelaal Sharma to Make the name Anthony  Gonsalves immortal through the song “My name is Anthony Gonsalves



abhijit45@gmail.com

Nostalgia on Western Music

Western music and its influence  has become a distinct entity by itself as a form of music in India apart from its traditional, classical and regional folk forms. The purpose of the article is to trace the influence and the origin of western music in the early British Raj and subsequently in the post independence era in Kolkata. The influence of jazz, blues, rock n roll and other rock genres has shaped the so called IndiRock over the decades

Calcutta, India’s entertainment ‘capital’

“Calcutta was the entertainment capital of India in the late 1950s, right up to the 70s,” remembers Deepak Puri, 68, who inherited the management of Trinca’s from his father Om Prakash in the 1980s. “Calcutta was the financial capital of India at that time, so all the corporates were here.”

The live music industry in Kolkata developed due to a combination of factors. “Western music”, as it was called, was a legacy of British colonialism in India and during the British Raj, Park Street had slowly developed from a residential neighborhood housing long-time city residents as well as corporate employees, with a smattering of high-end restaurants and bars that were frequented by a mostly expatriate clientele. Nondon Bagchi, a city-based drummer for Chequered Tricycle, a 1970s rock-band, says the live music industry in Kolkata developed as a result of foreign troops, mainly US GI soldiers who were stationed in the city during the Second World War. “There was a lot of entertainment for foreign troops in Park Street, at the Great Eastern Hotel, in Dharmatala & Mission Row and central Calcutta. There were restaurants and nightclubs on Chowringhee as well.  Those bars and restaurants with dimmed lights where the drummer and the guiterist would start jamming , the Kolkata western music lovers bet their lives to be present to make those golden moments memorable.The nostalgia now also can be found if we speak to the people who were in their youths during the 60s and 70s era.

Garney Nyss & the Eloha Boys was possibly the first band playing western music in Kolkata(1937) but that was before Rock music arrived in the world. Rock music started in the late sixties with Beatles, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple etc. Lew Hilt & Balakrishnan (Great Bear & High) came in early seventies. Arthur Gracias & his Sextet was the first professional band presenting Rock & Jazz Rock ( playing at the night-club at The Park) which Usha Ayer( Uththup) joined in later, while Braz Gonsalves & his Sextet comprising Louis Banks, Carlton Kitto, Peter  Saldhana  was the first Jazz group in Kolkata (playing at Blue Fox).

Incidentally Garney Nyss was the great grandson of Michael Madhusudan ( from his English wife). Garney was twice selected for the Olympics  in 1940 & 1944 (hockey) & was also the no.1 badminton player of West Bengal & no.3 nationally. His band performed at the Roxy for the military boys during the 2nd World War. Arthur Gracias now living in Australia. Louis Banks had composed  Doordarshan's signature tune while we lost Carlton Kitto only last year.

Western music in Calcutta started as Nandan says - with the advent of army boys and was mainly associated with dancing like Waltz & traditional jazz. Rock & Roll started in late fifties & almost faded out after mid-sixties.It even influenced Bengali film music with 'Meteria medikar kabbo' & 'Ke tumi Nandini' & Hindi films with ' Mera naam Ching-ching-chu', “Kaun hai jo swapno me aya” etc,

The generation of Kolkata during 50s and 60s who have been intoxicated by names like Elvis ,Frank Sinatra , Bob Marley ,  Harry Belafonte , Cliff Richard never had the chance to click on YouTube but   queued at Free school street to latch on to those long playing records as soon as they hit the market. The famous songs like Jamaica farewell or Matilda had their influence later  when the Bengali rock bands were influenced to re - create  those melodies in our local language.

Thankful to Mr Soumya Acahrya and Dr Gaurab Maitra for their valuable support

#CarltonKitto  #NandanBagchi  #GarneyNyss

LOCK DOWN

During this year 2020 our generation has first experienced nationwide lock down which our earlier generations may not have also experienced, In fact people never ever thought of that they shall be locked down at home at a stretch for 3-4 weeks or even months. To fight the threat of Covid-19, the entire world has locked down and this is an entirely new lifestyle system with which people needs to be used to.

An ordinary person who has been very outgoing , social , hardworking , professional needs to cope up with this sudden lifestyle change where he is locked up at home for 3-4 weeks at a stretch. In few countries, it maybe for months. This will have a lot of negative impacts which varies at different level of the society. 

For a person who has been working in sectors like Travel; Industry, Media, Engineering, production etc , where he or she needs to go out , travel a lot for his or her job needs to gets used to this new lifestyle change and set up the mind and body system accordingly. In case a sudden change like lock down ties him up where he is to work from home and is restricted from going out, most of the cases it  has a  stress giving effect . One must need to follow a few remedial steps to get out of this stress.

a)      A very active person when locked down feels jittery, restless and frustrated. One needs to be positive in mind and put himself into some constructive job to get his mind diverted.  He can either get into some unfinished project which he always thought of finishing, or it can be some passion which he could never get time for. One should also be very active physically during the lock down period as lack of Physical exercise will lead to lethargy and in turn bring negative thoughts.

b)      Covid-19 is creating havoc worldwide and the death toll is rising every day.  Try and get away from the number of deaths which will only bring panic in one’s mind. Rather focus on how any person gets treated and cured from this disease.

c)       Do not panic unnecessarily which will only have negative effects on both your mind and health. We all are fighting worldwide with the help of our Governments and have the trust to win this fight.

d)      This Lock down might have some negative effect on the entire economy as such, many may have professional hazards and might even have the fear of losing their job or salary cut. Take this as an opportunity to fight back where you may even need to reboot your professional life with a new opening.

e)      Children are affected the most during lock down as they are the most active members of our family. Communicate with the child and let him be active indoor. Try and have some playing session where you get involved with some physical activities.

f)       We have been hearing a Term called SOCIAL DISTANCING which I feel should be rephrased as Physical distancing.  You do not need to be distancing with others socially specially in this age of internet and social media. Be active on social media platforms, Phone calls.  Take this as an opportunity to speak to the people you has long forgotten. Physical distancing is only required to spread virus but there are no bars on being social no virtual world. Communicating gives you the opportunity to be vent out your stress.

g)      Take care of the elders of your family and plan your future days. You may need to book the necessary items like food , Medicine etc well in advance s that you do not panic thinking of shortage of mandatory items at home. Proper planning will save you from stress and panic of shortage of necessary items.

Following a few proper steps with an positive attitude will make you lead a better life all through the lock down period. In fact, Lock down gives you an unexpected period of time to spend some valuable and quality time with your family which you may have been loosing all these years due to your heavy professional lifestyle.

Be safe, be positive and be happy. We all shall overcome this unprecedented situation with our joint efforts.

Please feel free to comment and put inputs of your thoughts so that this blog can be more effective and helpful to the entire society.

abhijit45@gmail.com

#lockdown   #covid19 #stress

The long forgotten Queen - Rani Abbakka Chowta

Since the 7th century, maritime trade (in spices, textiles, war horses etc) had flourished between the communities of India’s western coast and the Arabian Peninsula. With an eye on this lucrative trade, several European powers had been trying to discover the sea route to India. The Portuguese finally became the first Europeans to find a sea route to India when Vasco Da Gama reached Calicut in 1498 after a long voyage.

Five years later, the Portuguese built their first fort at Cochin. This was followed by the establishment of a ring of forts in the Indian Ocean region – in India, Muscat, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, even as far as Macau in China.

This, along with its superior naval technology, put the control of all the spice routes to India into the hands of the Portuguese within twenty years of Da Gama’s historic voyage.

For the whole of the 16th century, Portuguese dominance in the region remains unchallenged by any other European power (the Dutch, the French and the British reached India only at the start of the 17th century).

The year was 1555. Portuguese colonial power was at its peak in the 1500’s. They destroyed Zamorins of Calicut. Defeated the Sultan of Bijapur. Took away Daman from the Sultan of Gujarat, Established a colony in Mylapore, Captured Bombay and made Goa as their headquarters. And while they were at it, pretty much unchallenged, they even ruined the ancient Kapaleeswarar Temple to build a Church over it.

Their next target, the super profitable port of Mangalore.

Their only bad luck, just 14 kilometres south of Mangalore was the small settlement of Ullal - ruled then by a feisty 30 year old woman - RANI ABBAKKA CHOWTA .

Initially, they took her lightly and sent a few boats and soldiers to capture and bring her back to Goa - Those boats never came back.Shocked and enraged, they sent a huge fleet of ships this time, under the command of much celebrated Admiral Dom Álvaro da Silveira - The admiral soon returned, badly injured and empty handed.

Thereafter, another Portuguese fleet was sent - only a few injured from the crew managed to make it back.Then the Portuguese went on to capture the Mangalore port and the fort anyways, perhaps planning to tackle Rani Abbakka Chowta from the convenient distance of the Mangalore fort.

After the successful capture of Mangalore, a huge army under João Peixoto, an experienced Portuguese General was sent to Ullal. The brief was simple: Subjugate Ullal and capture Abbakka Chowta.

The plan was foolproof- there was no way a 30 year old lady with a few men could withstand the might of an army of thousands with advanced weapons. The Portuguese reached Ullal and found it deserted. Abbakka was nowhere in sight.

They roamed around, relaxed and thanked their stars - Just when they were about to call it a victory - Mrs Chowta attacked with 200 of her chosen men - there was chaos all around and many portuguese lost their lives even without a fight

General João Peixoto was assassinated, 70 Portuguese were captured and the rest just ran away.

So if you’re Abbakka Chowta, who’s just defeated a large army of aggressors, killed a general, captured fighters and defended her city - What will you do?

- Rest and enjoy the moment right?

- Right?

- It was not so with Rani Abbakka Cowta !

Rani Abbakka Chowta, rode with her men towards Mangalore that same night, and laid a siege of the Mangalore fort - She not just broke inside the fort successfully - but assassinated Admiral Mascarenhas the Chief of the Portuguese power there and forced the remaining Portuguese to vacate the fort.

She didn’t just stop at this but went on to even capture the Portuguese settlement at Kundapura, a full 100 kms, north of Mangalore - Just to make a point.

The Portuguese finally managed to get back at Abbakka Chowta by convincing her estranged husband, to betray for money. She was arrested and put in the prison where she revolted again and was killed while trying to escape.

Abbakka Chowta was a Jain who fought against the Portuguese for four decades, with an army comprising of both Hindus and Muslims, a full 300 years before the First War of Indian Independence in 1857.

What did we Indians do to her, as a mark of our respect and gratitude? - We just forgot her.

We didn’t name our girls after her. We didn’t even teach her stories to our kids.

Yes we did release a Postal Stamp in her name, named a boat after her and erected 2 statues - yes just 2 statues in the whole of India for someone who should be our national hero.

The Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Rani Abbakka the 1st of a series of five inshore patrol vessels built at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd is named after Abbakka Mahadevi.

We might have got to read a chapter about her in our text books, had she been a European or an American.

Many talk about her being the last Indian to have the power of the agni-ban. In all this cacophony, our generation has lost a great hero - a great source of inspiration.

# Abbakka Chowta , # Portuguese , #Mangalore

abhijit45@gmail.com