My friend Rummana Chowdhury, a well-known poet and compere was hosting a show in Canada. The next participant was Rezwana Chowdhury Banya, whom she was about to beckon. Suddenly Banya said to her, “Rummana, I was in Holy Cross College with you". Caught off guard, Rummana said, "I should be the one saying that, Banya!"

Rummana and I both recalled Banya as a quiet, simple and modest girl with two plaits firmly set in place, hardly venturing out of her own world. Today Banya , despite her success, remains unchanged. This is a major achievement and her compatriots look upon her with great pride.

On January 21, I had the privilege of witnessing Banya's performance in Mumbai, India. The show was organised by a Tagore-based organisation, titled Sadhona who marked their 30th year with renderings from Tagore.

The programme began with Rezwana's song, Anondodhara bohichhey bhuboney. It was a unique rendition and when she presented songs in succession, each song was like a complete offering to Tagore. She had learnt the last song from her guru, Konika Bandyopadhyay. Clearly her relationship with Mohordi, as she called her, was marked by a close friendship and exemplified the traditional guru-shishya practice. This song, Banya says, is set to Teora taal in the notation, yet Konika had taught her without any taal and maintained

that it was better without one. She also performed a song that eloquently epitomises the rainy season, Emon dine tare bola jay. The rendering was one of the best that I have ever heard.

Banya has opened new vistas by recording with recitations by veteran actor Shoumitro in one of her CDs. She also recorded the songs of Ponchokobi (Tagore, Nazrul, Atul Prasad, Rajnikant and DL Roy). She has been working towards attaining mastery in Atul Prasad songs. Her most recent tribute to Konika, jointly presented with recitor Brototi Bondhopadhay, is another landmark in her life. The recordings narrate the life and work of Konika and Banya punctuates it with her songs. One of the songs from Kalmrigoya, Jao re onontodhamey is sung with such passion and perfection that I felt even this song alone could be a good example of Banya's achievements.

She has imbibed Tagore's philosophies in her life and it was as if she was able to internalise these thoughts while singing. This was exactly her message in the popular chat show Aloye Bhubon Bhora on channel i.

Rezwana's family wanted her to study economics. She in turn had no inkling that she would be a singer, nor that Tagore songs were going to be her forte. Shantiniketan, the heaven, in her own words showed her the way and enabled Rezwana to hold the lamp so that others could follow her. She has her own school 'Surer Dhara' where the students learn not only the Tagore songs but also develop an ear for music and aesthetics.

Despite Rezwana's success, her mission is not over. In the footsteps of Konika, she wants to involve herself with a grassroots organisation titled Elmhurst Foundation. In the make up room of S channel in London, she confided to me, "Nashid, my songs have only reached those with

CD/cassette players. I want to do something for those who have none, the teeming millions must be benefited through my songs."

I could see that the humble Banya is not only a singer or a Tagore exponent, she is much more, and many more times than my words can express.

By Dr Nashid Kamal -- eminent artiste and academician.