Lyric and background history of song samukhe shantiparabar

Parjaay: Anushthanik Sangeet (13)

Taal: Kaharwa

Raag: Mishra-Purvi

Anga: Khayal

Written on: 1939 (3/12/1939)

Swarabitan: 55

Notation by: Shailajaranjan Majumdar

Bhanga Gaan

Notes: This song was written on 3rd December, 1939.

In this period once it was planned to stage 'Daakghar', rehearsals too had started, however, it did not go off. This song was written for the play at this time. 'Geetabitan Kaalanukromik Suchi', compiled by Probhatkumar Mukhopadhyay has a note –

... This [the song Samukhe shanti-paarabar ...] was placed at the end scene to be sung by the Grandfather sitting at the head-side of Amal who had died. The drama could not be staged. It is learnt that the poet had wished not to sing this song publicly before his death. It was first sung openly on his Shraddha ceremony. ...

The song was included in the book 'Shesh Lekha' published after his death. Rathindranath Tagore had written in its Notice –

... The song 'Samukhe Shani-paarabar ...' was written for the drama 'Daakghar'. Staging of this drama did not take place and my revered father had wished to have this song sung after his death. In accordance to that it was sung in Shantiniketan on evening of 22th Shravana, 1348B after his demise and also on 32nd Shravana when his last rites were performed.

It was an error on the sixth line of the song that was published in some periodicals as 'jyotir dhrubotaroka' in place of 'jyoti dhrubotarokar'. ...

Shantidev Ghosh in his book – 'Rabindra-sangeet has a reference –

... He had started rehearsal of this drama which continued for about three four months. The now-famous song 'Samukhe shanti-paarabar ...' had been composed at this time. He had said at that time that his days were counted, this song could be used in the event of his demise despite it was dedicated to the sad death of Amal. ...

Shailaja-ranjan Majumdar in his book too has referred to this song in his book 'Jaatrapother Aanonogaan' –

... Gurudev himself used to enact the role of grandfather and sing this song sitting on the head-side of Amal who was in his deathbed.

After composing the song'Samukhe Shanti-paarabar...'he had summoned me at one o'clock in the afternoon. Normally it was not the time when he used to call me for songs. I picked up the song and made a notation of it. When I was about to return he called me back, he was looked at me as he was meditating, said – 'I have written what I have realised today. Please do not teach this one to people like you do with the other songs. Open the song to them only when I am done. You shall not see me then within your vicinity. However, do not give lessons of this song to anyone until then.

He did never sing the song completely in the rehearsal. Neither have I paid heed to the lyrics of the song. For some reasons Daakghar was not staged this time. ...

... I had had this song concealed since then. I had reopened it after the news of his death had reached me. The prayer organised on that day in the temple presented this song in chorus while all present were in tears. The chorus was constituted by Indulekha Ghosh, Amala Basu, Kanika Badyopadhyay and myself.

After a few days three Gramophone Record companies – HMV, Hindustan Musical Products and Pioneer, had accepted my proposal and simultaneously published recordings of this song. Kanak das in HMV, Shaila Devi in Pioneer had sung as directed by Anadi Dastidar and Amiya Tagore recorded the song in my direction with Hindustan. ...