Remembering Manna Dey – my way

It was the early 1970s – 1971 or72 to be precise.  I was still in the regional flights going out from Calcutta (my base), and waiting to graduate into the trunk routes like Cal-Del or Cal-Bom or Cal-Madras flights as an airhostess with Indian Airlines.  As a junior my flight rosters were usually to Rangoon-Port Blair, Kathmandu, Bhubaneswar-Vizag, Guahati-Silchar and Guahati-Jorhat-Tezpur-Mohanbari sectors. 

My initial sectors were serviced by Dakotas, Fokker-friendships or occasionally Avro aircrafts.  Caravels and Boeings were reserved for the trunk routes in those days.  The Dakota and the Fokker-friendship aircrafts were pretty safe, flew at reasonable heights and trustworthy; however, there were times when the uncalled-for happened. 

The uncalled-for happened in one of the Guahati-Jorhat-Tezpur-Mohanbari sector flights.  The Fokker developed a snag at Mohanbari and the crew had to stay the night in one of the colonial tea estates.  These bungalows used to be really huge and haunting with that special warmth of the bygone eras.  There was a certain charm and romance in the whole environment.  The sense of being in a dreamland, away from the real world was heightened with the knowledge that Manna Dey was in town and singing the whole night away at a local function. 

It was but natural that all of us – the pilots and we two airhostesses did not think twice about heading forth for the destination without fail.  I do not remember the exact songs Manna Dey sang that night but I do remember the mood and that mesmerising haunting sense that crept into me.  No wonder it has been there in my subconscious mind all these years and came to the forefront as soon as I heard about his death in this mornings news. 

To me Manna Dey’s voice had a peculiar haunting quality, much like Hemanta Kumar’s voice – a voice that kept calling you back.  I do not know why or how I developed this notion but have a fair idea it might have to do with a couple of things.  Cinemas released in Calcutta in those days usually had songs sung by these singers; the films had haunting romance that simply reached its optimum crescendo with a Manna Dey voice.

Even now when I listen to songs from “Waqt”, or “Awara” or “Anand”  Manna Dey can still carry me away to a different level of existence with his lilting, haunting, melodious voice.  I am sure many of you go through the same feeling when you hear his recorded songs.  As they say – one never dies because one lives on among people who remember and cherish their memories.  Hope Manna Dey is singing more songs up there where we shall all meet one day.