Kamala Bose (1947–2012) was an eminent vocalist in Hindustani Classical music based in Allahabad. She hails from a family that is deeply rooted in the field of performing and fine arts and boasts of a rich musical tradition.
She was initiated in this field by her father, the late J.D. Mazumdar, a reputed violinist and music composer with the All India Radio (AIR). It was from him that she received her initial training, and at the age of 5 she already started humming the songs she would hear.
In 1969, she came under the tutelage of the renowned vocalist, musicologist and teacher, Pt. Ramashray Jha of the Bhatt Gharana.
In 1977, she completed her master's degree from the Allahabad University, in Allahabad with a distinction in Music Vocal. She specialized in classical vocal or the khayal form, light classical i.e. Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Hori, Kajari etc., with great finesse.
Bose commenced her musical journey in 1970 with All India Radio, Allahabad as an "A" grade artist of classical vocal music. Subsequently, she was appointed as a panellist in the Audition Board by The Director General, A.I.R, New Delhi.
Bose's proscenium experience was wide and impressive. She travelled and performed extensively in both India and abroad, participating in many major concerts, including the Sadarang Music Conference, Kolkata, Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai, Sankat Mochan, Varanasi, Bangalore Sangeet Sabha, to name a few.
The A.I.R. in "Sangeet Shiksha", a special feature of 26 episodes and the Gyan Vani Program on the FM Channel, comprising 10 episodes, invited her to disseminate her knowledge in classical music. Through them she unravelled and simplified both the basics as well as the complex aspects in the development of the ragas. A Head of the Music Department with the Allahabad Degree College, Allahabad, she had great command over the theoretical aspects of Indian Classical Music in addition to her mastery over the performing side. She successfully conducted many workshops and lecture cum demo sessions prominent among which are:
Kamala was married to Sri. Bichitra Mohan Bose and they have one son named Jayanto Bose and two daughters named Nabonita Mitra and JoitaBoseMandal.[citation needed]
Apart from her immaculate renditions of khayal, bhajans, geet and Bengali raga based compositions, she earned a reputation of a complete musician.
Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai honored her with the coveted title "Sur Mani".
Because of her genius and expertise in this performing art, the Director, Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam and Bengali Social & Cultural Association, Allahabad have honored her.
Bose has undertaken extensive foreign tours in US in 2009 and has also performed in France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria in 2003.
The Italian TV in 1998 and Swiss National Radio in 1999 have also recorded her.
Nandi Records released her first CD titled 'Reverberation' in 1998.
Kamala Bose, a well-known disciple of renowned musicologist, Pandit Ramashreya Jha.[1]
Renowned sitar player Gaurav Mazumdar, a disciple of Kamala Bose[2][3]
Kamala Bose, All India Radio Archives
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Performance at All India Radio's National Program, 20 April 2008
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Dr. Rashmi Malaviya Joshi, a disciple of Kamala Bose
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