Impressions of Pratima Barua Pandey in Goalpariya folk music

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• Dec 27, 2021 | moderator

Digital Desk: One of the renowned icons of folk music of Assam, Pratima Barua Pandey, gave us crucial insights into how the landscape of folk melody has been formed with forms of power, regional politics, gender and identities.

The national awardee Pratima Barua Pandey is best known for her Goalpariya folk music. Pandey hailed from a privileged family as the daughter of Prakritish Chandra Barua (Lalji) and the niece of filmmaker Pramathesh Barua of Devdas fame. 

However, being born into a royal family never accompanied her way of living and passion for music. Her music spoke of the simplistic livelihood of her people and their way of folk living. Pandey lived a life of simplicity and realism. The lyrics' soulful nature and humanitarian content touched people's hearts. The simple lyrics are about the entire gamut of human experiences that everyone can relate to.

The plainness of Goalpariya folk melodies and Bhawaiya encouraged her senses. She chose to get into the extensive sea of folk melody. It was Bhupen Hazarika who brought Pandey's talent into the limelight. Pandey's encounter with Bhupen Hazarika made a significant count for folk music of Assam.

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Dr. Bhupen Hazarika was instrumental in bringing Barua's mastery to the forefront. He met her at a function on his return to Gauripur in 1956. Hazarika was extremely impressed by her singing. Impressed by her singing, he presented her the opportunity to sing in his Assamese film, Era Bator Zur. It was the initial step towards admiring the fluidity of Goalpara's folk roots.

Hazarika brought the then-well-known singer to Guwahati. He said, "She must go out and sing for the world." Regardless, Pandey carried out tremendous hard work to earn acceptance for her audiences. 

Pratima Barua Pandey choosed diverse ways to preserve the essence of folk music, which was on the urge to get washed of. Barua's life also mirrors the different stages of the evolving Assamese individuality and how folk music served as syncretic power in comprehending Assamese. 

Barua was commemorated with various prestigious honors. The awards included Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Shri (1991) and D Lit from North Bengal University. 

Pratima Barua Pandey was born to a royal family on October 3, 1934, and she died in Guwahati in 2002. So today, the statue of Padma Shri awardee Pratima Pandey Barua reflects a cultural milieu.