The Contributions of Baijis or Courtesans towards the Musical Scenario in 19th Century Calcutta

Name: The Contributions of Baijis or Courtesans towards the Musical Scenario in 19th Century Calcutta
Start: 2025-08-29T17:00:00+05:30
Location: Kolkata Centre for Creativity 777 Anandapur | E.M. Bypass | Kolkata Kolkata, Kolkata, India 700107, West Bengal

Schedule

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC+05:30

Location

Kolkata Centre for Creativity 777 Anandapur | E.M. Bypass | Kolkata Kolkata, Kolkata, India 700107, West Bengal | Kolkata, WB

Join us for a compelling Library Talk at Kolkata Centre for Creativity, where Anindya Banerjee—distinguished classical musician and musicologist—delves into the overlooked contributions of baijis or courtesans to Calcutta’s rich 19th-century musical landscape.
Titled The Contributions of Baijis or Courtesans towards the Musical Scenario in 19th Century Calcutta, this session explores how women performers, often labelled as ‘tawaifs’ or ‘nautch girls’, migrated from Lucknow and Benaras to colonial Calcutta, where they created vibrant salons of music, learning, and cultural resistance.
Drawing from his acclaimed book Baiji Elo Kolkatay, Banerjee highlights the complex intersections of gender, migration, and musical legacy. The talk will be followed by a screening of Tawaif, his documentary film that captures the nuanced world of these artists who preserved Hindustani classical traditions amidst social stigma and colonial transformation.