IT runs in the family, as the saying goes.

Singing duo, sisters Pramila Chakraborty and Mridula Bhattacharjee, exponents in the field of kirtan music, have been immersed in the tradition since childhood, growing up in their ancestral home in Barisal. They were initially trained in classical music by their parents and uncle, followed by mentors Narayan Chandra Saha and Ramesh Chandra Chakraborty.

There has been a history of kirtan in Bengal spanning 1200 years; its roots steeped in ancient, Vedic times. The music is a folk-based form of story-telling, drawing from the medieval poems of Gobindo Das and Chandi Das, the pool of songs later enriched by the Panchakabi (Tagore, Nazrul, Dwijendra Lal, Rajnikant and Atul Prasad). The songs -- devotional in nature -explore the role of Krishna as a deity, lover and son. The sisters' specialty is recounting songs glorifying the Amar Prem or eternal love between Radha and Krishna. It is their excellence as doyens of Padaboli kirtan of the Navadeep gharana that has earned them their well-deserved reputation. Shamsur Rahman once poetically described Pramila as one of the foremost vocal artistes of Bangladesh.

Kirtan underwent a popular surge in the 14th Century when Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Nitai) set the ancient texts to melody. The songs became a tirade against the rigid caste system, focusing on love for one's fellow man. The genre was revolutionised by Krishna Chandra Dey (Manna Dey's uncle) in the 1940s by the addition of modern tunes and beat. Kirtan has a classical base containing all the elements of sur, taal and bani; accompanying musical instruments include mandira, khol, banshi and harmonium.

Pramila and Mridula left Barisal to attend Dhaka university in the '80s. They are currently professors of Bangla literature and language at Notre Dame university, and Central Women's College, Viquarunnissa College respectively. Music has remained their lifelong companion. They are indebted to Rafiqul Islam, their guru in the early Dhaka years, and his wife Jahanara Islam, for unflinching support. Pramila recorded a solo album Shobarey Bash Rey Bhalo, to name one of many. Mridula has contributed to the album Hajar Bochhorer Bangla Gaan (A

Thousand Years of Bangla Gaan). There have been numerous radio and television appearances, and regular live performances. Pramila has found deep satisfaction from her live performances. “Nothing beats direct audience participation,” she confesses.

There have been performances all over the world. One of the most notable was held in London in May 1986 to mark Tagore's 125th birth anniversary. Pramila was part of the Bangladeshi delegation in an all-star cast, which included artistes from across the subcontinent. Ten years later, in 1996, Pramila went to the uS to perform at the Bango Sangskriti Sammilan, shows held for the Bengali Diaspora across ten states. More recently in 2002, she was sponsored by a private organisation Ananda Dhara, to perform at London's Mahatma Gandhi Hall.

As far as memorable performances are concerned, both sisters have effusive recollections. Once, performing at a programme organised by the Mahila Smriti Mancho back in the '80s when kirtan had a pretty low profile, Pramila recalls

much applause following a song with a prolonged chanting as the climax. She was deeply touched by the audience's thundering response. The sisters have received similar standing ovations on many other occasions; one other that they fondly recount was at the Shilpakala Academy following a twenty minute rendition of the Prabhash kirtan. While they have tended to mostly perform together, Mridula has branched out, writing for various newspapers during the 1990s.

So, what is the future of kirtan music? Pramila and Mridula are convinced that lessons are not the answer and therefore do not take on students; one has to "live the kirtan". "The secret lies in being able to love the music passionately,” they claim. The sisters are attempting to revive the flagging kirtan tradition in Bangladesh. They believe that kirtan transcends national boundaries and touches the heart with its universal theme of love. In this age of great global unrest, kirtan could indeed pave the way to a more harmonious world.