D for Dylan

Interestingly,Majaw’s interest in music did not begin with Dylan’s songs. Towards the end of the 1960s,while he was in Kolkata,he was introduced to the musician’s genius. This was the era of rock-and-roll,and the likes of Dylan and Joan Baez were revolutionising the scene. “I was really taken by what he sung and wrote,” Majaw recollects. “There is so much hatred,despair,war and sorrow in the world. With all that writing power,he (Dylan) makes it better just by putting pen to paper.”

So,on May 24 in 1972,Majaw held the first concert in Shillong to celebrate Bob Dylan’s birthday. From that year on,the Bob Dylan Festival became a permanent feature on Shillong’s music calendar. Every year,thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Shillong to be a part of the festival and watch Majaw and his band pay tribute to the legend. “The concert”,Majaw tells us,“is my way of saying thank you to the man. It is my way of showing respect”.

In the last five decades,since the release of his first,self-titled album in 1962,no man has influenced popular music nearly as much as Dylan. From the 1963 Blowin’ in the Wind,and the 1964,The Times They Are a-Changin’ — both of which,for many years,became anti-war anthems — to the 2000 release,Things Have Changed,a song from the film Wonder Boys,that won him an Oscar,his music has consistently inspired millions all over the world. Tonight,‘Shillong’s Dylan’ pays tribute to Bob Dylan at Blue Frog,Lower Parel.