Atul Prasad Sen was a Bengali composer, lyricist and singer, and also a lawyer, philanthropist, social worker, educationist and littérateur. Atul Prasad's introduction of the raga to the Bangla songs had a significant impact on Bengali music, and influenced the songs of Kazi Nazrul Islam and other raga-based modern songs. The songs created by him are known as Atul Prasad's song.
October 20 marked the 148th birth anniversary of this master melody maker.
Atul Prasad used fast-paced Hindustani tunes like Kheyal, Thumri and Dadra skilfully, and was able to add an element of spontaneity on occasions when the tune has transcended the lyrics. He is credited with introducing the Thumri style in Bengali music. He also pioneered introduction of Ghazals in Bengali.
Atul Prasad's acquaintances with maestros in Urdu and Persian Ghazal inspired him to experiment this particular style to be brought into Bengali music. He created around six or seven Ghazals in Bengali and pioneered a stream of Bengali music which was later enriched profusely by contribution of Kazi Nazrul Islam.
Atul Prasad was a follower of Bahmo faith, which was initiated in Calcutta in 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Dwarkanath Tagoreas reformation of the prevailing Brahmanism of the time. Atul Prasad created many songs devoted to Brahmo faith. Also, some of his compositions are dedidated to faith of Vaishnavism (worshiper of Lord Vishnu or Sri Krishna), Shaivism (worshiper of Lord Shiva) and Shaktism, where the metaphysical reality is considered feminine (Mother Kali or Mother Universal).
Atul Prasad helped to awaken nationalism in colonial India by creating various patriotic songs. During his first voyage to England in 1890, Atul Prasad passed through Italy and, being inspired by the tune of the Gondola rowers' song in Venice, he composed his patriotic song.
The movement against the partition of Bengal during 1905-11 inspired creation of patriotic songs which helped in propagation of Swadeshi movement ideologies. Rabindranath Tagore, Atulprasad Sen, Dwijendralal Roy, Rajanikanta Sen, Mukunda Das, Kamini Kumar Bhattacharya, Aswini Kumar Datta, Manmohan Chakravarty, Satish Chandra Banerjee and many others composed various patriotic songs in support of the movement.
Atul Prasad Sen was born as the eldest child of Ram Prasad Sen and Hemanta Shashi on October 20, 1871, in a Vaidya-Brahmin family from the village Magor in South Bikrampur, Faridpur District, presently located in Bangladesh.
Atul was born in his maternal uncle's house in Dhaka, following the custom at that time. His maternal grandfather Kali Narayan Gupta initiated Atul Prasad into music and devotional songs.
Atul Prasad died at Lucknow on August 26, 1934 at an age of sixty three years. He was buried at the Brahmo Temple of Kaoradi, Sripur subdivision of Gazipur District, Dhaka division, established by Sir Krishna Govinda Gupta in his estate in 1893.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
