Lyric and background history of song aro aghat soibe amar

Parjaay: Puja (224)

Upa-parjaay: Dukkha

Taal: Jot

Raag: Jhijhit Khambaj

Written on: 1910 (4 Asharh 1317)

Collection: Geetanjali

Swarabitan: 37

Notation by: Surendranath Bandopadhyay

Notes: This song was written on 18th June1910, at Shantiniketan.

Generally Rabindranath used to transfer his new compositions to Dinendranath Tagore; who, in turn would teach the song to others. Problem would arise if, for any reason, Dinendranath was not available. Such a situation had been described by Tejeshchandra Sen, a teacher of the early ages of Shantiniketan Brahma-vidyalaya in his memoire ‘Gayak Rabindranath’.

… Idea of a tune at night time would definitely mean concern. He would spare Dinendranath at night time. But to remember the tune was a priority. … Followers of Dinendranath were summoned.

In a similar situation Umacharan, a servant of Gurudev appeared at my quarters. Gurudev has summoned me to be present right now. I could quite feel my palpitation. I have learned a few songs from Him sitting behind Dinubabu. But facing Him alone and picking a song had never been a reality. Yet I had to go. I could hear His voice from the foot of the staircase. As if in murmurs. I climbed the stairs slowly, my nerves shaking – He looked up from His copybook, said – ‘Oh you have come, be seated.’

Gurudev was sitting on the balcony, the place for His writing, facing away from the wall. A small lantern in front of Him, the chimney had gathered considerable amount of dirt. He was rehearsing the melody from the copybook in the dim light.

He assured me – ‘Nothing to worry, I know you too would not be able to remember. Yet while showing you the tune several times it would create an impression in my mind, and that is why I have summoned you.’

The song was from ‘Geetimalya’ –‘Aaro aaghat soibe aamar, soibe aamaro…’

He took long time to teach me the song, reiterated at the end –‘Now go home, you’ll have to appear for the test tomorrow.’

I was fortunate enough for the test did not happen. I was not at all confident about what I would do alone in front of Him, although the complete melody was in my memory. I had returned at His apartment in the next evening and saw Nutu (Roma Majumdar, Kar) sitting there.

He said to me - ‘No need to bother for the test anymore, I have transferred the song to Nutu.’