Most of the established artists of the current generation are either his admirers or students. Many had placed him in the position of a guardian. Because Pradeep Ghosh's presence offered affection on one hand and true vocal education on the other.
Due to the cursed consequences of the corona atmosphere, we had to lose this unstoppable veteran artist of life's greatest poem 'Kamalpasha'. Five years ago, on October 16, he suddenly departed to a land of no return.
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On Sunday afternoon, Pabitra Sarkar delivered a memorial lecture about the artist at the 'Rag-Anurag' stage in Jodhpur Park. In 'Pradeep-Anirban', the solo presentation featured Dr. Shahadat Hossain Nipu, Pradeparghya Das, Debashis Mitra, Pranab Saha, Ranabir Dutta, Nandita Kar, and Kakali Saha. Along with this, a beautiful poetry recitation session 'Three Poets of the Century Chosen by the Poet' drew attention, combining poems by artist Pradeep Ghosh's three favorite poets. Nirendranath's poems were recited by Ashisbarun Mallick, Sanchita Mitra, Sayantani Dutta Roy, and Samrat Dutta.
Salil's poems were recited by Piyali Mitra, Mira Gangopadhyay, Chandra Chowdhury, and Pratiparghya Das. Sukanta Bhattacharya's poems were recited by Samapti Roy and Eshana Gupta. The program was anchored by Pradeep Ghosh's favorite student Sulagna Basu.
The program repeatedly returned to stories of the artist's colorful life. Naturally so. His childhood was spent holding his father's hand. Sometimes in rural Bengal, sometimes in the heart of nature surrounded by forests of other states.
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The person who came to deliver milk to the house in the morning would accompany him to open green fields and riverbanks. He would practice his voice by shouting. Even at that age, so many writings of Rabindranath and Nazrul found completeness in his voice, heard by countless known and unknown birds in the trees.
Even a few days before his death, he continued to recite his favorite poems from home. If not on stage, then through digital media. That's why he could say 'I was born for poetry'. 'Kamalpasha' would be an understatement to call Pradeep Ghosh's greatest recitation of life. There is a firm belief among artists that he could make all profound and meaningful poems so simple and accessible, which still seems incredible today. Works like Debatar Gras, Durer Palla, and Bonolata Sen remain great examples even today.
Many such incredible things were part of his innate talent. Fearing that the world of poetry would drift away, he once declined a government job as an announcer at All India Radio. Alongside this, thinking of poetry, in 1970 at Max Mueller Bhavan, he became the central figure in Bengal's first four-day poetry festival. Annadashankar Ray, Debdulal Bandyopadhyay, and Kazi Sabyasachi were also present at that festival.
Under the planning and supervision of artist-daughter Dr. Pritha Ghosh and direction of Samrat Dutta and Sulagna Basu, the special program began with a collective presentation by children from two organizations. Pradeep Ghosh always believed these children were the future of tomorrow. That tradition continues even in his absence.
