Renowned singer and musicologist Dilip Kumar Roy passed away on this day. He was the son of famous poet, musician and playwright Dwijendralal Roy.
He studied at Presidency College and went on to Cambridge University for a tripos in Mathematics. Roy’s interest in western music was also stirred at this time.
In Europe, he met and was deeply influenced by the philosophers and writers Bertrand Russell and Romain Rolland.
On his return to India in 1922, he would be influenced by the music Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande and would train with Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and Ustad Faiyaz Khan. He was engaged with the freedom struggle and was close to Subhas Chandra Bose. Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore were among his admirers.
Roy is best remembered for his exquisite renditions of Nazrulgeeti, Nazrul Islam’s songs, Atulprasad Sen’s songs and his father Dwijendralal’s songs. His rendition of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Vande Mataram with M.S. Subbulakshmi in the 1930s remains mesmerising.
At 31, Roy renounced the world and joined Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry. He focused on spiritual music from this period.
