Himalayan Times (1957)

September 22, 1957

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MUSIC CONFERENCE HELD IN DARJEELINC

PLIVA'S SHIELD FOR POLICE \,

(from Our Special Rtpruentativ*)
Darjeeling, September 18

If participation by a
Urge number of eohooli,
organization! and indivi-
duals is deemed the cri-
terion of mooen, then the
three-day Music Conference
Organized by the Hima-
layan Kala Mandir can
be hailed as such. How-
art r io their endeavour to
enoourage looal talent, the
organizers sacrificed quali-
ty iu favour of quantity,
with the result that some
of th* items proved ab-
surdly amateurish and
boring. In spite of this there
were some very pleasing
displays of Tibetan and
Nepali Folk danoing. In
the Nepali group the joie-
de-vive of the Marooni
and the delicate finesse
of the * Paseima Chutki"
were exeeuted with charm
and poise. Unfortunately
the dances rarely confor-
med to their original pu-
rity being administered
with movements that had
a definitely Occidental and
Indian flavour. Make-ups
too seemed unduly heavy
and superfluous. Costumes
were however enohantingly
flamboyant and colourful
In oontrast the Tibe.
tan danoea were executed
with an eye to retain

their rustic simplicity, for
which the troupe deserves
high oommendation In
their exotic costumes with
the minimum ef make-up
and aooompaniment they
gave six tointiHating die
plays—from the virile
Khamba dance of North
Kaateru Tibet, to a mellow
and religious rendering of
''Kay Chungma" in dedi-
cation to Lord - Buddha.

^'ongs sung under the
nomenclature ''Modern; Ne-
pali" were mostly insipid
imitations of Hindi tunes,*
especially of the film va-
riety, 'ibis tendency is
difficult to understand, as
Nepali tunes have a dis-
tinct piquanoy and a
haunting oadenoe of their
own.

Miss Cbbanda Bhat-
tacharjee, a looal girl
gifted with a melodious
voice gaVH two excellent
renderings of Bhajan and
Kir tan Among the Cal.
outta artist Kartik Das a
rising sitarist gave polis-
hed displays while Kali
pada Das and Gour Basak
delighted theandienoe with
their olassioal singing.
Tabla aooompaiment by
Radhamohon Das Nath

and Sudhir Das , were
adequate.

The organizers are to
be congratulated on a
bold and imaginative ven-
ture whioh it is hoped
will do muoh to popula-
rise musio in Darjeeling
and to foster local talent.

* '.* 4
The Darjeeling Police
annexed the Pliva Hockey
Shield on September 16,
by beating the D.C.ts.A.
by two goals to one at
the. North Point ground.
Too much-individual play
by both sets of forwards
spoilt an otherwise fast
encounter. Strangely the
two left backs shone as
soorers, all the goals being
notched off penalty cor-
ners

The Police rather un-
expectedly took the lead
in the very first minute,
John Buxman's tame shot
entering the net through
a forest of legs and stioks.
Manbahadnr restored equa-
lity for the D.C.8.A. in
the eighth minute by
converting a penalty cor-
ner. Five minutes from
the and, the Polioe clin-
ched the issue. Buxman
again converting a short
oornor with a sizzling
•hot.

Mrs. Qoddard, wife of
the Reotor St. Paula
School gave away the
prizes.

■ . . a| .

(Continu»d en paf* 10)