Pratima Barua Pandey – Queen of Goalpariya Lokageet

Pratima Barua Pandey was a folk singer from Assam, India. Born on October 3, 1935, in Kolkata, Pratima Barua Pandey popularised the Goalpariya folk songs (Goalpariya lokageet) and took them to the world platform. For her pioneering efforts in popularising Goalpariya lokageet, India honoured Pratima Barua Pandey with Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Academy Award.

Pratima Barua was born in the royal family of Gauripur, Dhubri. Filmmaker Pramathesh Barua (who made original Devdas) was her uncle. Pratima Barua completed her schooling from Gokhale Memorial School in Kolkata. Then she came back to Assam and studied at the Gauripur Girls’ High School in Dhubri. Pratima Barua was married to Gauri Shankar Pandey.

After listening her voice in a social event, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika had predicted that this girl would talk Goalpariya loka geet to greater heights. And he was right. Later Bhupen Hazarika introduced Goalpariya folk songs in his film Era Bator Sur. The singer was none other than Pratima Barua Pandey. That was the beginning and the rest is history. Pratima Barua continued giving one after another evergreen hits of Goalpariya lokageet. Some of her popular songs include Hastir Kanya, Matir Manush, Oh Mur Mahut Bandhure, Bail Machhe kheil Kare, Dui Diner Bhalobasha, Komola Sundori Nache etc. During stage shows, Pratima Barua used to sing Paul Robeson’s world famous song "We are in the same Boat Brother".

Goalpariya folk song legend Pratima Barua Pandey passed away on December 27, 2002.

Assams.Info - The Assam Information Portal