Mahisasuramardini is a widely popular programme aired every year at day-break on Mahalaya.It is the non-detachable part of Bengali culture.There are many interesting ups and downs realted to this programme. Let's have a time machine ride at the time of birth of radio broadcasting in collonial Calcutta.
In 1922, Indian States and Eastern Agency Limited proposed the British Government to start radio broadcast in India. After few months after a meeting in Delhi,in association with Marconi company, Bengal radio club started radio broadcasting in Calcutta (November,1923). But the transmission was very poor,the band width of radio wave was approximately 5 miles.The office of Marconi company was situated in opposite of High court at Temple chamber and the head of it was John Stepleston.Hirendra Kumar Basu ( popular music composer) and Biren Ray (first Bengali pilot) were also associated with Stepleston.In 1927 Calcutta radio station was taken over by Indian Broadcasting company (IBC) and on that same year on 26th of August it was translocated at No.1 Garstin Place. But unfortunately due to severe economic loss IBC shut down. British government didn't help them financially to overcome the crisis.
Workers of IBC protested and finally government took the charge of that company.From 1st April,1930 it went under the ownership of Indian State Broadcasting service, which named All India Radio (AIR) after 6 years.In this span of time Banikumar, Pankaj Kumar Mallick ,Birendra Krishna Bhadra and Raichand Baral engaged with AIR.
Durga puja in autumn is known as Akalbodhan according to the Ramayana.The actual time of Durga puja is in 'Chaitra' ,the last month of Bengali calendar in the season of spring or Basanta. That's why Ma Durga is also known as Basanteswari.In 1932 AIR planned to organize a morning show which would be aired at the time of Basanti puja.The main thought of this programme was from Baidyanath Bhattacharya, popularly known as Banikumar.The program was named 'Basanteswari'.Songs were composed by Pandit Harish Chandra Bali and Pankaj Kumar Mallick and the music director was Raichand Baral.Script was written by Birendra Krishna Bhadra and slokes were recited by Banikumar himself.
On the same year (1932) Basanteswari was again aired in autumn.From 1933 to 1935 it was aired in the morning of Mahalaya. In 1936 it was re- designed, written by Banikumar,recited by Birendra Krishna Bhadra, music composed by Harish Chandra Bali and directed by Pankaj Kumar Mallick.Finally it was named 'Mahisasuramardini' , aired on 21st October in 1936 at 6AM. It got tremendous amount of love and popularly so Banikumar fixed the starting time at 4AM from the next year and till now it is being followed. Pankaj Kumar Mallick changed the music to match the atmosphere of dawn.The whole arrangement became ageless though Hindu Brahmins protested against it because a non Brahmin, Birendra Krishna Bhadra recited Chandipath.But Banikumar said that Birendra Krishna was greater than any other Brahmin.
Banikumar, Birendra Krishna Bhadra, Pankaj Kumar Mallick all of them were very perfectionist about this programme.At the day of broadcasting Banikumar reached at radio station at 3 AM. Dwijen Mukherjee was sung 'Jago Durga' by Pankaj Kumar Mallick instead of Hemanta Mukherjee because Pankaj Kumar Mallick was totally against to allow Hemanta Mukherjee to sing that song without at least 6-7 days rehearsal. It was broadcasted live to 1962 ( except 1942, due to Calcutta riot). In 1963,64 and 65 recording had been played because of shortage of money due to Indo-China war. On those years Pankaj Kumar Mallick and Banikumar did not go to Akashvani but Birendra Krishna Bhadra whose name is synonymous with Mahisasuramardini went there.
In 1976 there came an order from Delhi to reject the Mahisasuramardini and to organize a new one. Dhyanesh Narayan Chakraborty wrote 'Debing Dirgotiharinim'. Songs were written by Shyamal Gupta.Music director was Hemanta Mukherjee. Lata Mangeskar and Asha Bhonsle sang and finally the script was read by Uttam Kumar, though he was not agree primarily. That version was recorded prior to Mahalaya without a single rehearsal and being aired on 23 Rd September,1976. After the end of the broadcast at 5:30 AM a huge crowd gathered in front of Akashvani to show their grief,lots of phone calls and letters with bad reviews came to office and that show was trolled by people. On that time Uttam Kumar was out of the city and he personally apologized to Birendra Krishna Bhadra.
Delhi head office had not taken more risk.After 10 months on 26 th August 1977 in the 50 years celebration of Calcutta radio at Rabindra Sadan, telecommunication minister Lal Krishna Advani announced- "Mr.Mallick , your Mahisasuramardini will be on the air again from the next Mahalaya!"
But that was very late. Birendra Krishna already left AIR, Banikumar was no more.
Actually Mahisasuramardini becomes our emotion. We are passing it generation after generation.Now a days TV channels are also casting their own version with new compositions but still Banikumar's Mahisasurmardini is as goosebumping as our national anthem.
By Zavizah.
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