[jyotirmoy]

In the early 1800 a young man of Portugese origin arrived in Bengal. His name was Hensman Anthony. Having traveled all over he settled down in Farashdanga, in the town of Chandernagore near Kolkata. Not much is learnt about his earlier days though. He was attracted to the Bengali culture and especially Bengali folk songs. In a very short time he learnt the language thoroughly and soon started composing songs mostly religious. He is noted for his Agamani Songs, celebrating the return of Goddess Durga to her parent’s home that marks the Bengali festival of Durga Puja. He came to be known as Firingee Anthony i.e Anthony the foreigner.

In those days a very popular form of entertainment was “Kobir lorai” which means fight of the poets. In these shows rival poets and composers assembled with their troupes of accompanying musicians. These rival composers composed songs on the spot and sang alternately, replying to each other thru songs. Very often these turned in to verbal abuse and often vulgur. Anthony was very much impressed with the performances of the stalwarts like Bhola Moira, Ram Basu and Thakur Singh. Anthony then formed a band and started taking part in these shows. He always began his duel with a religious song which some what prevented the duels going abusive or vulgar. Anthony also helped construct a temple to Goddess Kali in the Bowbazar locality of North Calcutta that today is famous as The Firingee Kalibari (The Foreigner's Kali Temple).

Among all the bards Bhola Moira(Moira means sweetmeat maker) was the top ranking and considered to be most formidable. Anthony participated in many duels with him as well as others. In all such duels Anthony was ridiculed and was asked to go back to his clan and worship Christ instead of Kali. Anthony remained calm & focused. Soon his name and fame spread all over Kolkata and adjoining places. Finally in one show with Bhola Moira he scored so high that Bhola Moira forgetting all his past hostility embraced him and declared Anthony the best Kobi of his time.

Anthony was attracted to a “Baijee” (professional singers of classical music who performed at the houses of rich patrons) who was a widow and married her. This act wasn’t liked by his neighbors at all. A tension followed. Once while Anthony was away on a tour his house was set ablaze by fanatics in which his pregnant wife died.

A 1967 Bengali film by Director Sunil Bannerjee celebrated the life and works of Anthony, and had noted Bengali actor Uttam Kumar in the title role. The film was noted for its music, composed by another noted famous Bengali Musician Manna Dey, and earned Uttam Kumar an Indian National Film Award for Best Actor in 1968.

Some clips of song sequences can be found at youtube if any one is interested.

[priya]

What a fascinating and interesting life.

Now let's hope my connection will be obliging on YouTube!

[noflylist]

Just saw a documentary on Pabankumar Baul and Baul music. Another fascinating tribe of people from Bengal.

[jyotirmoy]

dear retiredflylist, please read my post on Baul music in the music forum.

[KABAARY]

Quote

In all such duels Anthony was ridiculed and was asked to go back to his clan and worship Christ instead of Kali.

This suddenly reminded me of Michael Madhusudan Dutt who was similarly ridiculed because of his religion (more so because he converted to it)...
The Bengali Byron ?

[jyotirmoy]

Michael Madhusudan Dutt was the first one to dare write some part of Mahabharat from Promila's eyes.