Ritwik Ghatak (1925-1976) His films have given us a special sensitivity for the sound of the folk music of Bengal and made us aware of its diversity and richness. Standing in the middle of a fragmented Bengal, Ghatak challenged us with questions about what is home and where it is and in a sense, our journey is an inheritance from him.

Pratima Barua (1935-2002)Her voice was an embodiment of absence and intense longing and she has been an inspiration behind this journey. We had wanted to meet her, but she was gone before we could even start.

Deben Bhattacharya (1921-2001) He worked all his life with folk music--of Bengal as well as many places around the world. Few in Bengal know about him, even though a large part of his field recording and writing was concerned with the music and poetry of this land. It is more our loss than his. We have tried to take lessons from his work about our limits and limitations in the field.

John Lomax (1867-1948) and
Alan Lomax (1915-2002)We have learned a great deal from these master field recordists; studying their work is the equivalent of reading the classics. What they have especially awakened us to is the importance of remaining accessible and sharing the music and knowledge that we have acquired with as many people as possible.

Golam Shah Fokir (died 2005)We are grateful that we visited his home in Birbhum only a few months before he passed away and for the gift of songs that he gave to us that day.

Alauddin Sarkar (died 2005)We had had a brief encounter with this composer and teacher of bhaoaiya songs in a place called Agomoni near Gouripur in Assam. We had planned to go back to him but missed the opportunity. He had said something very beautiful about their music: our songs fill the space of the mouth, he had said.

Ruhi Thakur (died 2007)Ruhi Thakur’s untimely death gives us a sense of being wronged. We did not get the chance to thank him for his beautiful songs. Sona bondhu re, ami nirole tumare pailam na. .

Shah Abdul Korim (1916-2009)Our visit to the house of this old Sylheti poet and composer in Ujan Dhol, Dhirai, Sunamganj in 2006 was like a pilgrimage. Everyone knew that his time was nearly over. He lay in bed, then slowly sat up and spoke a few words. We feel fortunate to have had the chance to stand once in his shade.

Hajera Bibi (died 2007)Once upon a time she was considered a great singer and composer of the Faridpur region, singing night after night before hundreds of people . But when we met her towards the end of her life at 90 years or more, it seemed as though even she saw herself as being only a shadow of her old self. This is not how I was, she said. Yet she sang for us and it is our great honour that she has left a trace of her voice with us.