Minister of cultural affairs Pranati Phukan after releasing the album. Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Feb. 8: Melody knows no barriers of language and culture. Singers of the state have shown just how true this is.

In an apt tribute to Assam’s maestro, the soul-stirring songs of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla have been translated and rendered in the Rabha dialect and brought out in cassette form.

The cassette, titled Samanwoyor Sur, was released by culture minister Pranati Phukan at a function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in the city today.

Six evergreen songs of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwalla were translated into the Rabha dialect, set to tune and brought out in an audio cassette. These melodious songs were rendered by singers Samar Hazarika, Anima Choudhury and Tarali Sarma, among others.

The other singers included Mukul Rabha, Janmeswari Rabha, Jina Rajkumari, Poppy Hajuari, Nilakanta Ronghang and Sukracharyya Rabha. The music has been directed by Gopi Rabha.

This innovative venture was planned and directed by singer Mukul Rabha and was recorded at Sabda Sanchayan Kendra at the cultural complex.

Mukul Rabha said, “I think this is a fitting tribute to Rupkonwar on the occasion of his birth centenary celebrations. We did not face any major problems in bringing out the cassette barring some technical snags in the language.”

Rabha was inspired to bring out this cassette when he had successfully translated and directed the music of Rupkonwar’s famous play Rupalim at a drama festival organised by the Theatre Forum of Assam at Dudhnoi. “This is a novel way of popularising Jyotiprasad’s music among the different tribes of the region,” he said.

Rabha folk tunes were incorporated in the interlude and preludes of the songs. The lyrics were translated by Rabha scholars such as Sukracharyya Rabha, Dharani Pam, Prakash Rabha and Upen Rabha Hakacham.

Samar Hazarika said, “I had sang Joy Alokomoy, directed by Ramen Barua some 20 years ago, for the recording of a long playing (LP) record. I feel overwhelmed today and I am eager to sing in other tribal dialects like Karbi, Dimasa and Bodo.” He added, “This is a small step towards a better society.”

Singer Tarali Sarma was equally ecstatic. “As a singer, it is a kind of challenge to learn a new language. It is a different kind of experience altogether in an attempt to be one with the society as a whole.”

Sarma, who had earlier sung in the Karbi and Bodo languages, said, “This can be a trend-setter and a step towards cultural and social integration.”

Echoing her feelings was singer Anima Choudhury, who describes it as “a whole new experience”.

“I have a weakness for Jyotiprasad Agarwalla’s songs and singing it in the Rabha dialect was refreshing,” she said.

Choudhury said, “I had sung this particular song on earlier occasions and it is one of my all-time favourites.” He feels that this venture will go a long way in removing the distrust among the different tribes of the region. “I cannot think of a better way of promoting peace and universal brotherhood,” she said.