Sachin Dev Burman: Recognition at least

Agartala, Sept. 13: Only the old adage, better late than never, can justify the state government’s belated enthusiasm in paying tribute to maestro Sachin Dev Burman — Tripura’s gift to the world of Indian film music.

After decades of indifference and a yearlong centenary celebration in honour of Sachin Karta, as he is popularly known, the government will now honour his wife, Meera, with a cheque of Rs 1 lakh, a shawl and other gifts on Saturday. The famous composer, a scion of Tripura’s royal family, had dissociated himself from his ancestry in the wake of an uproar over his marriage to Meera Dasgupta in 1938, according to author and researcher Pannalal Roy.

He visited Ujjayanta palace for the last time in 1945 at the invitation of King Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya for Prince Kirit Bikram’s coronation. For the last three decades of his eventful life till 1975, Sachin karta never visited his native state again. During this period, the royal palace as well as a succession of governments in the state remained indifferent to the man who is arguably the state’s greatest brand ambassador.

In 1991, Karta’s illustrious son Rahul participated in an orchestra in Agartala, but the then government did not give him even a token reception.

However, by the end of 2005, the information and culture department of the ruling Left Front government decided that Sachin Karta had indeed been a genius and son of the soil and his birth centenary in 2006 deserved a yearlong celebration. The festivity, organised throughout 2006, peaked with a music jamboree on the spacious lawns in front of Ujjayanta Palace in January this year.

“There was one gap. We wanted Karta’s wife, Meera Dev Burman, to attend the programme in Agartala. But she was in her nineties and physically indisposed, so we had to give up the idea,” said Subhash Das, the director of information, cultural affairs and tourism department.

He said officials of his department had found during several visits to Mumbai that she had become paralytic and senile.

“She is lodged in a home for the old and infirm, called Sharan, at Bhansi in Navi Mumbai. She was shifted there early last year by Asha Bhonsle.”

“ICAT minister Anil Sarkar and I will go to Mumbai on September 14 and call on Meera Devi the next day to offer her the gifts and a citation.