Pt Debojyoti Bose on Banga Bibhushan: I see more politics in the Indian Classical Music industry than in the socio-political scene

Pt Debojyoti Bose received the highest state honour Banga Bibhushan for his contribution to the music industry as a Hindustani Classical music maestro and composer on July 25. With the recent ED’s raid and arrest of former education minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide, Arpita Mukherjee, on their alleged involvement in the SSC scam, a section of netizens demanded the award winners protest. After receiving the award, the sarod exponent said that he has no interest in politics. 

When asked about politics, Pt Debojyoti Bose sarcastically said, “I see more politics in the Indian Classical Music industry than the mainstream social-political scene. My interest in politics is nil and it is only with the motive of working for the people that I have joined a political party.” He further added that he wishes to devote his life to service to the people of his country. “It hardly matters if I entertain them with my music or I do philanthropy,” he said. He also added that he has been promised he feels proud and surprised to be the only Hindustani classical musician to join politics. 

In speaking about his upcoming works, Pt Debojyoti Bose reveals that he has been working on several singles with renowned artistes of Bengal. The singles will be released before the Durga Puja. As the official convenor of the State Music Academy, he shared several plans on taking the academy and its funds to the rural areas of Bengal to promote music and search for new talents. 

Pt Debojyoti Bose is one of the musicians from Kolkata to visit more than 10 countries as the Indian cultural ambassador through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He has worked as a composer for over 10 films. Besides music, he has directed over 550 non-fiction episodes for television. His philanthropic activities started way back in the 1990s with his organisation, Bose Foundation. He single-handedly ran the organisation until 2022 when he joined the All India Trinamool Congress as an active full-time politician.