Sema Ghosh: In Search of the Soul in Music

Vocalist Dr. Soma Ghosh believes in alchemising nostalgia into dreams. She wants to go back to the past to envision a healthy future for Hindustani classical music. She brings with her that old world charm, her gayaki reminiscent of the purana andaz with all its adaa and nakhra. “I live in today’s world, but I want to return to that world of music where the soul used to speak,” she says.

- Shrinkhla Sahai

Touched by her soulful music, Bismillah Khan declared Soma Ghosh his manasputri (honorary daughter) and they went on to do a number of jugalbandi concerts together. In a letter to the government many years ago, the Ustad wrote that though he had never asked for anything for anyone, he felt that if his daughter received the Padma award it would be a step forward for the world of music. Soma Ghosh received the Padma Shri in 2016. She believes that the award was due to his blessings and the training of her gurus.

The abhinaya in her music spills over even as she speaks. Her animated expressions, hearty laughter and ability to spontaneously break into song, made the interview lively and emotional. “Rooh se chalne waale logon ki duniya hi alag hoti hai (People who are true to their soul live in a different world altogether),” she remarked as we enjoyed a cup of tea after the interview.

In an attempt to offer an alternative model to make musicians economically self-sufficient, Soma Ghosh has established an organisation called Madhu Murchhana and the Musicians’ Welfare Fund.

Tell us about your music training.

My family is culturally and musically oriented. My grandfather was one of the first professors in the Hindi and Sanskrit department at Banaras Hindu University. My father was a freedom fighter, and my mother a musician and poetess. My siblings are also connected with art and culture. My first guru was my mother Archana Chakravarty, a senior musician of the Senia gharana. I learnt the voice technique and intricacies of the Senia gharana from my mother’s guru-bhai Narayan Chakravarty.

So you received taleem in khayal gayaki first?