Grammatical notations of 20 Auniati Satra borgeets recorded
THE ASSAM TRIBUNE — SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 2001
‘From
Sanjoy Barkataki’
JORHAT,
Aug 11 — At a time when Guwahati-based engineer Sri Dilip Changkakoty has
completed and scientifically documented rhythms of borgeet and songs prevalent at the Auniati Satra in Majuli, renowned
vocalist Sri Dilip Sarma too has in a similar effort recorded the grammatical
notations of over twenty such compositions.
“Despite
being Sankari in nature, the aforementioned competitions at Auniati Satra have
a distinctive style and tenor of their own”, stressed Sri Sarma. Negating
remarks of critics and opposing any Bengali influence on borgeet and songs used in the said the respective notations had
been documented by him in the Indian classical style.
“As music is universal, amalgamation of style
and influence of cultures cannot be totally ruled out”, he opined, “but compositions
used by the Auniati Satra still retain their distinctive identity,” he
reasoned.
A
notable factor worth considering was that, “sans the 15th century
saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva ever having set foot on the precincts of the
Auniati Satra, it is simply astounding how the exponents of his “art” have till
date religiously followed the great unifier’s ideals and still retained the flavour
of his original compositions”. With about 183 borgeets credited to the preacher of Bhakti cult through naam dharma, Sri Sarma was confident
that there would be even on a conservative estimate atleast 2,000 borgeet and
songs prevalent at the Auniati Satra, as of now.
Drawing
a parallel by citing the case of Indian classical music practiced by the
diverse gharanas in their own
distinctive style, Sri Sarma claimed that different ‘throwings’ can easily be
identified when borgeet and songs are
presented by exponents (bhakats in
this case), in the satras dotting the river island.
Having
taken up the challenging task on the request of the Auniati Satra satradhikar
Dr pitambar Deva Goswami, the widely respected vocalist son of late Dinanath
Sarma founder editor and proprietor of the famous Awahan of yore hopes to keep up his effort despite age fast
catching up.
Sri
Changkakoty on the other hand remarked, “rhythms of borgeet and songs at the Auniati Satra have a similarity with those
in Odissi nritya. Adding further, he
said, “a semblance of thumri too is
evident in the rhythms fauna here.” Scientifically documenting the findings for
posterity, Sri Changkakoty said, “the present endeavour seems to have become a
sort of family obsession, and undoubtedly stands out as the primary mission of
my life.”
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