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.
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