Life beyond usual careers can be equally rewarding: Tanmoy Bose

Percussionist Tanmoy Bose’s journey is as much about mentorship as it is about music. A disciple of Pandit Shankar Ghosh, he carries forward a lineage of learning rooted in discipline, humility and deep listening. Today, as a mentor, Bose extends that same ethos to his students, engaging not just with them but also with their families to
reshape ideas of creative pursuit. In a conversation with Calcutta Times as it marks its 25th anniversary, he reflects on the role and responsibility of the guru, and the changing mindset of young musicians.

Coming from a family of doctors and entrepreneurs, how did your family react when you decided to pursue music full time?
There was significant discouragement and social pressure, especially from the parents of my friends at school. They were convinced I was ruining my life. There is a widespread belief that classical music requires a legacy, and without it, one cannot succeed. However, with my guru’s blessings and my parents’ support, things changed. What truly matters is understanding what your child wants and loves. There is a whole world beyond conventional professions, and it can lead to a fulfilling, happy life.
My parents understood this, and my wife and I followed the same approach while raising our children. I have lived a happy, baggage-free life because of that support. I raised my two sons without pressure, giving them the freedom to choose their own paths. Both studied abroad and completed their MBAs. One now works with a bank in England, while the elder one left his job in Singapore to pursue electronic music and now works with Sunburn. That is how I have lived my life, and it is the same philosophy I try to pass on to my students.

What changes do you see in today’s learners?
Students are far more exposed and often more talented. But everything is available at our fingertips. Our world was much more limited and it was easier to focus deeply. Now, while students can access music from across the world instantly, that also makes concentration more challenging. Without riyaaz, nothing works. For me, practice is like meditation, the breath falls into rhythm and the mind settles. I always tell my students that they must learn to gather their minds and focus inward. Otherwise, it won’t work.

What were your learnings from your association with stalwarts like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pt Ravi Shankar?
As a growing musician, I was fortunate to receive their blessings, something I had never imagined. The first time I sat beside Amjad Ali Khan saab, it was surreal, and it felt the same with Ravi Shankar ji. What I learnt from them was tehzeeb e mausiqui – the etiquette of music. My father told me, “If you pursue this, just be happy, do not expect anything.” That’s what my journey has been all about.

Kolkata as a soundscape
Kolkata has been central to shaping Bose’s musical sensibility, with his family living on Fern Road for three generations and the city, as he recalls, once feeling “like a cultural avenue.” Growing up in Ballygunge, with the Dover Lane Music Conference held close by, he was surrounded by music early on. Friends from Don Bosco and St Xavier’s introduced him to live performances on Park Street. That early exposure taught him that “all forms of music have value if we try to understand them.” Listening to Bengali songs with his mother, including performances by Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, further enriched that foundation. Later, travelling the world from the age of 21 and performing globally for over four decades, he continued to engage with diverse musical forms, and as he puts it, “after all these years of travelling and performing, no genre feels alien to me.”

Bose’s philosophy of music

For Bose, the philosophy of music is rooted in connection, depth and discipline. He believes that “classical music can be any music,” where the audience experiences joy but also becomes part of “a shared journey between the artiste and the listener,” shaped by the meditative power of sound. He strives to remain rooted yet contemporary, performing classical music with devotion while engaging with other forms with openness, as “all music carries its own depth.” At the same time, he stresses that music cannot be pursued casually. “It is not just about liking it,” he says, noting that like any discipline, it demands rigorous training and sadhana. “It is encouraging to see young people in Kolkata engage with world music, jazz and rock. The challenge, however, is greater now, and a deeper involvement in the process would make it even better.”