Hemant Kumar had to leave school for music

Some friends at school were standing together and singing. Class 10 students, whose secondary exams are due in three months, did not go down well with the Assistant Headmaster walking past the classroom. Entering the class, he asked, ‘Who was singing?’ No one spoke. A boy stepped forward. He said, ‘Me, sir!’ Sir asked him to come to the office. The unimaginable happened. After cutting the name from the registrar’s book, the sir said, “Go, sing now!” You have been expelled from school.’ The boy who was expelled from school is none other than Hemant Mukhopadhyay. Today is the day of departure of this talented artist. He died in Kolkata on 26 September 1989 at the age of 69. On the occasion of Hemant’s passing away, let’s know some unknown things about him.

He also left engineering

Hemant was expelled from school for singing, but later returned to school on his father’s request. Also got First Division in Madhyamik.

A family of need. The father’s dream was that his son would be educated and established, so that he would not have a life of tension like his. Apart from that Hemant is brilliant, good in studies. Baba Kalidas Mukhopadhyay tried his best. Rupnarayan Nandan Lane left his ancestral home with his family at 26/2 in Bhavanipur. MacNeen worked in a general capacity at Mackenzie. The salary was nominal. Along with the relief of the family, he also did tuition. But he did not have the ability to teach his children in a big institution like Mitra Institution with little income. Still, Hemantar was admitted on half salary by requesting the headmaster of the school for proficiency. Hemant also lived up to his father’s standard by getting first division in secondary school. Later, he was admitted to Jadavpur Engineering College as per his father’s advice. But the song got him that day.

How does one feel when one hears Sachinkarta, Pankaj Mallick’s music playing? Along with this, a fascination with music also developed. As a result, that is what happens. Hemant gave up his studies. He left the college in 1938 with declaration. However, the first recording was completed that day.

Nothing was happening, musical instruments for singing at home were inadequate. After coming to Calcutta, it became easier. Friend Shyamsunder had harmonium, tabla, gramophone records etc. in his house. Hemantar became addicted after one day with his friend. He started visiting Shyam’s house regularly. If he liked a song, he would listen to it and go to Shyamsunder’s house to play it on the harmonium. People of Shyam’s house also loved Hemant. The desire to sing is somewhat satisfied. But where is the stage? Where is the audience?

Desire to sing in school functions. But the opportunity does not match. Wealthy people were offered admission to the school, at half-pay. Who would give an ordinary boy like him a chance to sing at a school function! Friend Subhash Mukherjee. Yes, poet Subhash Mukhopadhyay is Hemantar’s school friend. He was annoyed by this. His question was, so many people sing in the school program, why Hemant will not get a chance? So he arranged for Hemantar to sing and said, ‘You don’t have to sing in school functions anymore. Let them perform with good singers. You come with me to the radio station. I have prepared the arrangements for the audition.

Hemant Mukherjee had to go door to door for record companies to sing. He will sing in Jalsa, sitting for four hours. At the end, I had to go and hear, ‘Dur mashai, who will listen to your song?’ Then after many days of becoming known in the world of music, I could not leave music tuition for the need of money. He also used to take singing classes in the rehearsal room of the Gramophone Company. He used to say, ‘What will you eat if you don’t do tuition?’

He has endured so many hardships just for the sake of music, for the love of music.

Father’s inspiration

Father Kalidas Mukhopadhyay could not accept that his son would leave his studies and sing songs. So when the topic of singing on the radio came up, he made it clear, ‘Singing on the radio will not be done. Study with your heart.

Hemantar is upset by his father’s ban. He explained everything to his friend Subhash. No one could accept it. Everyone has one thing, Hemant must sing on the radio. If necessary, everyone will convince the father. Mother took charge. After explaining, the father softened. He agreed to sing on the radio.

Wanted to be a writer

Hemantar’s handwriting was also excellent. He used to write stories. sing; Waiting is only the opportunity to hope. Hemant does not give up even though his heart is bleeding from the pain and suffering. Apart from continuing to practice music, he also focused on writing. Subhash Mukherjee is a companion in everything. He wrote poetry. And Hemant used to write stories. Hemantar also had the dream of becoming a writer with two eyes. Some of his writings were also published. One of them was printed in ‘Desh’ newspaper. Subhash Mukherjee was happy with his friend’s success. But Hemant is incomparable in the song, Subhash is impressed by his friend’s voice. So that his friend’s attention should not be diverted from music, he said to his friend, ‘There is a lot of talk about literature, but music should not be left out. The song has been played on the radio, now we have to try to record it.

In this way, Hemant is progressing step by step. I don’t mind studying. Even though it was difficult, the father gave priority to his son’s wishes. One day he called and said, ‘What do you want to record?’ This is what the father is saying! He went to Shailesh Dattagupta with his father’s friend Shanti Bose with joy. Shailesh wanted to listen to music. Hemant sang, “Even if you are far away, don’t forget that”. Shailesh stopped Hemant in the middle of listening to music. Hemant thought, the song seems not liked. But to his surprise, Shailesh informed about the song record within 10 days. After 10 days in 1937, Hemantar’s first record came out.

Won the world of music

From Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Sangeet, Hemantar’s voice has struck gold in every modern genre. Many movies have also become superhits due to the magic of his songs. ‘Path Harab Bale Aber Pathe Mechhi’, ‘Muchhe Gane Days’, ‘Aaj Dodnar Doi Path’, ‘Bakul Laughs Hearing Oli’s Talk’, ‘Ei Megla Dini Ekala’, ‘Aami Durh Hain Tobehi’ etc. Generations are coming down. Munshiana has also shown hemant in connecting the melody of the song from the music direction.