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Gupta, Nidhu (1741-1839) originator of Bangla Tappa, was the son of Hari Narayan of Kumartuli in
Kolkata. Nidhu Gupta learnt a little English from a Christian clergyman and became a clerk in the east india company, working at Chapra in Bihar from 1776 to 1794. Here he took lessons on tappa from a Muslim music teacher. He returned to Kolkata after amassing some wealth and devoted himself to the practice of music. In 1808, he established a music school, Kalabat Baithaki Ganer Majlish. Nidhu Gupta composed Bangla tappa lyrics and sang them himself, gaining considerable popularity. Most of his songs were about his love for a beautiful singer-prostitute named Srimati, whose house he visited and for whom he sang his tappa songs. Nevertheless, Nidhu Gupta's lyrics are free from bawdiness and vulgarity. Nidhu Gupta was influenced by the Hindi style of tappa songs. Nevertheless, his songs were not mere imitations of Hindi songs. He brought diversity to the tunes by mixing one raga (musical mode) with another. A considerable number of his songs have been published. Git Ratna (1837) includes 96 of his tappa songs. His son, Joy Gopal Gupta, published a second edition in 1856, including seven more songs. With the exception of four devotional songs and one patriotic song, the rest are about love. Bangalir Gan (1905), edited by Durgadash Lahiri, includes 459 of Nidhu Gupta's songs and Sangitragakalpadrum includes 150. Nidhu Gupta's patriotism and love for his mother tongue is evident in the following lines: 'Nanan desher nanan bhasa/ bine shvadeshi bhasa mite ki asha/ Kato nadi sarobar kiba phal chatakir/ Dharajal bine kabhu ghuchhe ki trisa?' (There are different languages in different countries/ Can one's heart's desire be fulfilled without the language of his motherland?/ Many rivers and ponds are there, what is their use to a chataki?/ Can its thirst be quenched without the drops of rain?). [Wakil Ahmed]
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