Inauguration Speech

by Kulapati of Ananda Marga Gurukula

It is my great pleasure to join you in inaugurating the Prabhat Samgiita Academy in Ydrefors, Sweden today on the auspicious 25th anniversary of Prabha’ta Samgiita at this newly renovated complex on CNS (College of Neohumanist Studies) & TC (Training Center) campus.

Prabha’ta Samgiita began its journey on 14th September, 1982 in Deogarh, Bihar, India with the invocation and a clarion call for a new renaissance with its first song: Bandhu he niye calo…O’ Supreme Consciousness, please lead us from darkness towards the fountain of effulgence.

The journey that began with a song of mere four lines has brought out innumerable pearls in the form of exquisite ragas, bha’va’s, lyrics, melodies, rhythms and an almost unending stream of cosmic grace with it. Humanity has been blessed by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiiji (aka Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar and most fondly as Ba’ba’) with a treasure-trove of songs which enriches us the moment we sing them with love, devotion and joy. Ba’ba’ had disclosed that PS is an antidote for psuedo-culture which is widely prevalent in the world today. It is befitting, therefore, that PSA (Prabha’ta Samgiita Academy) be first opened in Europe in the progressive land of Sweden to counter this malady and to initiate a new chapter in spiritual humanism. I hope that we can develop this tender institution with our sweet love for PS.Samgiita means the combination of vocal music, instrumental music and dance. PS represents a revolution in the world of samgiita. PS carries both a wide variety and depth of emotion that is unparalleled. It attempts to take us from the world of staticity and mere sensory pleasure unto the celestial realm, realm of devotion – the abode of true inner peace and awakening.Respecting the laws of musical jurisprudence, PS is mostly given in one language but it has synthesized many different traditions, styles, ragas and ra’giniis. Even many extinct ragas have been revived. According to Shrii Sarkar, many new ragas have also been invented in PS but they have yet to find a name. We are indeed fortunate to live in the time when we can listen to these melodies and relish the beauty and charm of gandharva microvita being carried through PS.
“Bengali is one of those languages which predominantly uses komala-svara (soft sounding letters). Lyrics sound sweet if letters belonging to komala-varga (ca and ta) are used properly within the various lines. The sweetness is enhanced if kathor dhvani (hard sounds – major notes or tones) are scattered through the lines, followed immediately by komal-dhvani (soft sounds-minor notes or semi-tones).” PS is the living testimony of application of this lyrical science.
PS was composed so effortlessly by Ba’ba’ that it filled all those around him with rare awe and admiration. One day on 20th Nov, 1984, he composed 15 songs in one day (2101-2115). PS was composed amidst a busy schedule of Baba which spanned a wide variety of activities. He would be conducting RDS, taking reports, inspecting the garden, and imparting personal contacts, conducting examinations of LFTs or new ac’aryas, giving general darshans, giving dictations on some subject and numerous other diverse activities. Yet amidst all this and much more, he found the time to give songs day after day. It seemed that composing songs and its melodies took almost no time for him. Of course, he was the Grand Master of the Nandan (Aesthetic Science) and Mohan Vijinana ( Supra-Aesthetic Science) and so, therefore, who else knows the world of music better than him?PS not only represents most of the important classical and folk styles of India, but also blends those styles, in some cases for the first time, with Persian, Scandinavian, Middle Eastern, Chinese and other important musical styles of the world. There are songs based on tunes from Iceland, Poland, Iberia, China, Israel, Balkans and Sweden. There are songs for innumerable occasions and festivals including tree planting, house-warming, baby naming occasion, marriage and funerals etc. There are songs for every season and for every state of spiritual realization. He composed about 40 + songs in 7 other languages besides Bengali.
PS is a school of music that is filled with optimism and hope. It is a therapeutic aid for diseases like epilepsy, nervous tension and several other physical and mental disorders. If songs with high frequencies are sung for days together, it can cause constipation and vocal disorder. If the high and low frequencies are well integrated, it can help the singer and the listeners. PS has an ingenious juxtaposition of high and low frequencies.
Every aspect of PS needs further research and in-depth study. I hope Prabhat Samgiita Academy (PSA) can create an impetus to go deeper; to learn to sing the songs correctly; and to spread it to the world through publications, concerts, regular workshops, seminars and preparation of PS learning materials.
5018 songs of PS were composed in a total of 8 years,1 month and 7 days (2957 days). The last two songs were composed by Ba’ba’ on Anandanagar and Gurukula respectively, just a night before he left his physical body. It was his desire that Anandanagar be the HQ for Gurukula and that Gurukula should carry his legacy to future generations through research, education and service. Hence, in the sacred memory of our beloved composer Shrii Prabha’t Rainjan Sarkar, we dedicate this Academy to his Gurukula – his last wish as expressed in his last song #5018. May the energy that is generated through this Academy inspire one and all to express sublime thoughts and do noble deeds!
Dada Kamaleshvarananda giving voice lessons as part of this Academy inauguration.

PRABHAT SAMGIIT 5018

Ámra gare nobo gurukul
Jináner áloke ráungiye dobo
Pratiti kunri phul
Keha ná thákibe dure
Bájábo pratiti tare
Bándhibo priitiri dore
E maniháre atul
Keha ná thákibe piche
Theli ná kare o niice
Sabe átmiya biráje
Mano májhe doduldul
We will establish the Gurukul.
We will dye each and every bud with the light of knowledge.
No one will stay away.
We will bind everybody with the thread of love and create a garland of incomparable beauty.
No one will stay behind, none will be thrown at the bottom.
All will exist with kith and kin with their minds full of sweetness and tenderness for all.