Music Mantra

Meet Probir Barai,a senior aide to the principal secretary of the chief minister,for whom classical music is not only a passion but a tool to serve others. A resident of Howrah,Barai spends whatever leisure he gets on learning classical music. And the little bit he has learnt he teaches the children of his locality,of course,for free.

The 35-year-old ‘young man’ has got nothing else in his life. No adda,no politics,absolutely nothing. He has one dream — to learn classical music as much possible. “I believe it is not possible to learn it in one life. At least not for me. I believe I know nothing of this vast ocean. But my efforts are sincere,” Barai,who learns Khayal from Pandit Anindya Mitra and Ghazal from Ustad Shabir Khan,said.

Barai maintains a rigorous daily schedule to pursue his dream. “I get up early in the morning and then spend the whole morning doing riwaz. And after office is over I reach home and again get engaged in riwaz. And I spend the two days at the weekend on learning lessons from my gurus. I have also earmarked some time for learning Urdu because it is a must if you want to learn Ghazal,” Barai who stays at Howrah with his wife and 5-year-old son,told The Sunday Express.

Barai started learning music seriously about seven years back. “Music is in my blood as both my father and grandfather were good singers. I also could sing from my childhood but I never learnt it in a traditional way. Then I thought if I learn it I will do it seriously and I will go to a professional teacher. And I did exactly that later,” Barai said.

But the young man who is quite averse to taking part in any competition or any reality show finds time to teach a few children of his locality who come to him. “I know very well that I have learnt very little. But there are some children in my locality who sometimes come to me and I help them. And if anybody offers money I refuse it because I cannot do it. I have got no album recorded also because I believe I am not ready for that,” Barai said. But the young singer never pursues his passion at the cost of his work.

“At the chief minister’s office you cannot afford to be lazy or negligent. Here you will have to work if you want to remain here,” Barai said. And he is thankful to everybody,including his colleague Akash Roy and wife Anima.

“Had they not given co-operation to me in all spheres,I would not have been able to pursue my dream,” the young officer said.