GUWAHATI, Oct 23 � An English tune was used as the base of the melody for the lyrics of O Mor Aponar Desh, the 100-year-old song penned by Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbaroa, which is now regarded as the anthem of Assam. A seven-year-long research conducted by anthropologist Rajib Hari Kaushik on the State anthem has led to this revelation.
It needs mention here that Kaushik�s initiatives to unearth the hidden facts about the anthem also encouraged several quarters to make attempts at rendering the century-old song in 25 tribal languages of the State. Meanwhile, the Finger Spelling and Braille versions of the anthem have also been prepared respectively for the deaf and dumb and visually impaired people.
The product of Kaushik�s research would be released in the form of a book at a function scheduled for 1:30 pm of November 16 next at the Guwahati Press Club here. Besides the book, titled Chira Jugamiya Sur 1928 � Satikar Prekshapatat Asamor Jatiya Sangeetor Aanti-guri Bichar, Prakrita Sur Aru Surakarar Sandhanat Baijnanik Bisleshan, an audio CD, which is a compilation of the rendering of the State anthem in different tunes under the direction of several music directors/composers of the State since 1928 to 2012, will also be released at the function, said Kaushik in a statement here.
The mahurat of the new version of Kaushik�s documentary on the anthem titled Eshabashariya Asamor Jatiya Sangeet will also be held at the same function.
Kaushik said in the statement that through two artistes of Assam of international repute and with the help of German musicians, the core English tune of the anthem could be recovered. The anthem was sung in this tune in Calcutta in 1921, in Shillong in 1926, at the 1927 Tezpur Scout Jamboree and at the 1928 Tezpur session of the Assam Chatra Sanmilan.
Kaushik has dismissed the claim of Kamala Kanta Agarwalla that he (Agarwalla) had set the anthem to tune, as baseless. The word surakar (the person who sets lyrics to tunes) is not applicable in the case of the State anthem.
His research has led to the conclusion that the anthem was sung in an already existing tune, Kaushik said.
