Ramnidhi Gupta (Bengali: রামনিধি গুপ্ত) (1741– 6 April 1839), commonly known as Nidhu Babu, was one of the reformers of Bengalitappā music.
Nidhu Babu was born in Chapta , Hooghly District at his maternal uncle's house.[1] His ancestral house was at Kumartuli in North Kolkata,[1] where he grew up learning Persian and some English. Little is known about his upbringing, but by 1776 he had become a clerk in the office of the Chhapra Collectorate.[2]
In Chhapra, Nidhu Babu found a Muslim ustad to train him in the techniques of a formal gharana, or school of musical thought. However, he soon became fed up with his method of teaching, and decided to independently translate Hindi music into Bengali.[2]
In 1794, Nidhu Babu left his job in Chhapra and returned to Calcutta with a savings of ten thousand rupees.[2]
In 1805-06, Nidhu Babu organized an akhrai troupe, an akhra being a fraternal society for studying and practicing classical Indian music. It was for his refinement and composition of akhrai songs that he initially became notable. However, his tappā were the songs that brought him lasting fame.[2]
Nidhu Babu's principal work is the Gitaratna, a book of tappā love songs (with one exception, a tappā expressing his love for the Bengali language). Most of the songs in the Gitaratna are chaste and deal with separation or neglect.[2]
As a babu in early modern Bengali society, Nidhu Babu had few worldly needs; he was never ordered to sing a song. According to his contemporary James Long, he composed his best poems under the influence of wine. However, he was also noted for his fiercely independent personality, his hygiene and his love for food and wine.[2]
^ abSamsad Bangali Charitabhidhan by Anjali Bose, 1960, p. 259
^ abcdefChakrabarty, Ramakanta. Nidhu Babu and his Tappā. Published in Banerjee, Jayasri (ed.), The Music of Bengal. Baroda: Indian Musicological Society, 1987.
Bengali Wikisource has original text related to this article: Ramnidhi Gupta
January 21, 2023
nidhu, babu, ramnidhi, gupta, bengali, মন, 1741, april, 1839, commonly, known, reformers, bengali, tappā, music, born, chapta, hooghly, district, maternal, uncle, house, ancestral, house, kumartuli, north, kolkata, where, grew, learning, persian, some, english. Ramnidhi Gupta Bengali র মন ধ গ প ত 1741 6 April 1839 commonly known as Nidhu Babu was one of the reformers of Bengali tappa music Nidhu Babu was born in Chapta Hooghly District at his maternal uncle s house 1 His ancestral house was at Kumartuli in North Kolkata 1 where he grew up learning Persian and some English Little is known about his upbringing but by 1776 he had become a clerk in the office of the Chhapra Collectorate 2 In Chhapra Nidhu Babu found a Muslim ustad to train him in the techniques of a formal gharana or school of musical thought However he soon became fed up with his method of teaching and decided to independently translate Hindi music into Bengali 2 In 1794 Nidhu Babu left his job in Chhapra and returned to Calcutta with a savings of ten thousand rupees 2 In 1805 06 Nidhu Babu organized an akhrai troupe an akhra being a fraternal society for studying and practicing classical Indian music It was for his refinement and composition of akhrai songs that he initially became notable However his tappa were the songs that brought him lasting fame 2 Nidhu Babu s principal work is the Gitaratna a book of tappa love songs with one exception a tappa expressing his love for the Bengali language Most of the songs in the Gitaratna are chaste and deal with separation or neglect 2 As a babu in early modern Bengali society Nidhu Babu had few worldly needs he was never ordered to sing a song According to his contemporary James Long he composed his best poems under the influence of wine However he was also noted for his fiercely independent personality his hygiene and his love for food and wine 2 Further reading EditGupta Ishwar Chandra Kabijivani References Edit a b Samsad Bangali Charitabhidhan by Anjali Bose 1960 p 259 a b c d e f Chakrabarty Ramakanta Nidhu Babu and his Tappa Published in Banerjee Jayasri ed The Music of Bengal Baroda Indian Musicological Society 1987 Bengali Wikisource has original text related to this article Ramnidhi Gupta Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nidhu Babu amp oldid 1111856488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
