The first album by Niloy Das 'Koto Je Khujechi Tomay' was released a year ago. That album is on the list of favorites of all listeners. Especially to the aspiring guitarists and for those who love the guitar. Those songs seem a little too important to us. Rock music was just reaching to its peak. Musicians used to come to ‘Niloyda’ (as we fondly call him), to learn new things. He was the Master of guitar. Niloyda also seemed to have enjoyed teaching a lot. His father, Sudhin Das was a music notation transcriber, musician and a renowned teacher himself. His mother, Nilima Das is a celebrated singer as well.
I just finished my SSC exams that year, awaiting on my result. That’s when my mother finally agreed to give me money to buy a guitar! I was nagging for that for a long time. I need to do it very quickly before mother changes her mind, which has a possibliliy. She even obligated me to take someone elder with me when I’m buying the guitar, preferably one of my brothers. But we don’t know anything about choosing a guitar.
Then I thought of Niloyda immediately, whom I don’t know well then. He don't even know I exist, he's Niloyda! He lived in my neighbourhood, taking guitar class on weekends in our local kindergarten school. I was practically living next door to the king of guitar. Due to the presence of Niloy Das in the neighborhood, the practice of guitar has been famous in this area. At that time, Niloy Das already was a legend among us. Whenever I see him on the street, awkwardly I always asked, “How’re you Niloyda?” Everytime he smiled and replied only with a single word “Bhalo” and walked away. That’s how much he knew me. It was really a long shot, he’ll never gonna buy guitar for me.
On a fine morning of a weekend I decided to visit my old school. I came to my first ever school after a long time, maybe ten years later. The school was then had another name, Marigold School, now it’s Bluebird School. Though it’s a different school now, surprisingly the old school doorman still remained. And just like old days the jars full of chocolate, hojmi, achar and toffees were hanging next to the gate. I kind a had a dejavu. We would save five or ten paisa, so we could bought these together during the ‘tiffin period’. Needless to say, no money was ever given from home, these were strictly prohibited.
Doorman uncle noticed me and asked in a familiar tone, "How’re you, mama? Are you here to see someone?" I said, "Yes, is Niloyda here, mama?" "Ha, he’s taking class at 1-B. So you want to learn guitar too?" "Well, is there any problem if I go inside in the middle of his class?" "If you here for guitar class, then go ahead." I went inside of the school. I was quite surprised. Ten years have passed but everything in the school is exactly the same as before! How is that possible? Nothing had changed at all, it was all the same, even the classroom numbers are the same. 1-B. This was my classroom last time I was at school. I stood at the door, thinking of old memories of the class. Almost forgot why I was really there for. Niloyda didn’t saw me either. He was playing a scale on a guitar, actually he was showing a student how to play. But the student seemed not getting that and playing the wrong notes. Niloyda kept on showing patiently and playing the same notes over and over. Everyone else were also playing something on their guitars. Everyone is practicing their lessons. Niloyda taking turns and showing things to them. I find his class kinda surreal. Suddenly Niloyda looked up at the door and asked, "Who are you? Are you in my class?" I was dumbfound, came to my sense and replied in a hurry, "Niloyda, I live in the neighbourhood, our house is four-five building away from here. I’m Milon, professor Amanullah is my father..." He stopped me there and asked, "So!?” He seemed surprised, “What do you want to talk to me about? Anyway, can you wait till the class over? I’m surprised he didn’t threw me out from the classroom. Don’t know why did I mentioned father’s name, that was awkward! Embarrassingly I said, “Please carry on, I'm waiting.” I got inside of the classroom and I took a seat. I sat where I always used to sit. Third row, beside the window. I got nostalgic again, and the background music is like a guitar orchestra! Everyone’s playing different tunes but it sounds great somehow. Now everyone is showing their lesson to Niloyda one by one. Niloyda is explaining where and what to do. The number of guitarists has started to leaving. I was fascinated to see someone playing so good. I came to sit a little forward. Niloyda came to noticed me and said, “Do you know what it is he’s playing?” I answered, “Flamenco style guitar.” Niloyda at a surprise, “You listen to Flamenco?” I smiled and said, “Paco de Lucia.” With a smile, Niloyda picked up his guitar. The teacher-student both started jamming instantly. I was shocked and awed. It was like a live concert in front of the eyes. Finally, the last student left as well. Niloyda said, "Every week this boy comes from Narayanganj to learn guitar. That’s the kind of dedication you need if you're here to learn." Then he addressed me with a little joke and said, "'parato bhai' (neighbourhood brother), what do you want from me?" I was little embarrassed again and said, "Niloyda, I want to buy a guitar." "Go to the store! There's guitar shops at Science Lab, near the Police box." "Yeah, I know that. But I don't know anything about guitar, which one will be better..." Niloyda in frustration, "So, you want me to buy guitar for you?" "If you please... also my mother told me to take someone older and I don’t know anyone else who knows about guitar." Hearing me saying gibberish, Niloyda was so surprise for a while. He was out of words. Finally he laughed, "Well, come home in the afternoon with the money." At once I said, "Thank you Niloyda." I did not give Niloyda a chance to say anything else, fearing that he would change his mind. I was running out of class. He shouted, "Hey, do you know my home?" I shouted back, "Of course sir, you're Niloyda." I ran out of the school. Ah! I'm going to have my own guitar. I must have pulled up with something out of the ordinary. I didn't thought that he would agree so easily. I was convinced earlier, he would tuned me down. Let's face it; he doesn't know me, he has no reason to know me. I thought to myself, what a wonderful day it is. Now let’s see what mother has to offer. Hope she gives the cash without fuss.
I went Niloyda's house that afternoon. As I am climbing the stairs, the sound of guitar can be heard even from there. And I can tell from listeining from there, it’s pretty melodious. I don’t know how does one play guitar so beautifully? Such brilliance. Well, does Niloyda play the guitar all day?
The door of the house was open. There were two more guys there, they were all talking about Niloyda's new tune. Seeing me, Niloyda said, "Oh, you came? Come inside." I entered the room and my eyes got stuck on a guitar. That guitar was in a guitar stand. Must be a foreign acoustic guitar. There was a round sticker on the guitar, where a guitarist playing a polka dotted flying-V guitar. Niloyda asked, "Can say who the guitarist from that sticker?" I immediately answered, "Randy Rhodes." "One of my favorite guitarists from Ozzy solo. He was a neo-classical master. Died very young." I said, "He died in a plane crash... You're a neoclassical master too, aren't you, Niloyda?" Niloyda didn't seem to hear me or ignored me. Absentmindedly he said, "You know, Happy loved to play that guitar. My friend Happy Aakhand…” saying these words, suddenly Niloyda became emotional. I did not know what to say in such a situation. I never had such a big lose, like losing a friend. Not until then. I couldn't say anything. I just answered my own question, "You are actually the master of all guitarist Niloyda." Niloyda got his grip and said with a laughter, "Come on, let's buy you your guitar. We need to go right now. I have to get to work after this." I thought to myself, playing guitar is his work. What a fun job he has for life. The other two were coming with us as well. So, we called two rickshaws. Niloyda said to the others, "You two go together, Me and...” He forgot my name, “What’s your name again…" I replied, "Milon." "Yeah, Milon and I'm getting on the other one. See you at the guitar shop." I am in a state of trance. Niloyda will go and buy guitar for me, himself! Niloyda started chitchat with me, "What are you studying Milon?" "I just attended my matric exams." "Why are you saying matric? Isn't that SSC now? We had matriculation exams in our time." "That's why I said that." "As if I didn't understand SSC, strange boy you are!" He laughed. Rest of the way we talked about music. He was a little surprised, talking to me. We’re having a lot of. fun talking about songs we both like. At one point he raised both his hands; like he surrendered and said with a smile, "Oh my God! I see you are listening possibly everything in the world. I thought you’re only into rock and heavy metal. I don't think I have heard so much either. What about your study, do you even have time for it?” He laughed. Our rickshaw stopped in front of a Science lab. guitar shop. Seeing Niloyda, the shopkeeper came forward to greet him, "Do you want to see something Niloyda?" Niloyda said, "I played a guitar when I was here yesterday..." "Yes, it is not sold yet, I will bring it instantly. "Niloyda turned to me and said, "Milu, you’ll be lucky if you get that guitar, just yesterday I saw that. A sweet sound guitar!" Niloyda played the guitar a bit, examining fret board, frets, turned the guitar upside down and what not. He said, "That's alright. After a long time I got see a good jumbo guitar. You're really lucky." I was all happy and saying, "Thank you" to Niloyda several times.
As we were returning by rickshaw, we resume out music discussion. As we approached to Kalabagan, I was thinking where to hide the guitar in house, Abba (father) must not see or know about it. Niloyda still examining the guitar and said, "If the guitar had been played for a few days, the fret board would have been smoother; as smooth as butter. You understand?" No, I didn’t understand a word he said, I was worrying to get it inside the house. And so I offered him immediately, "Let it stay with you for few days. You play it and make it smooth for me please." Niloyda was baffled, "Say what? You just bought the guitar. Take it home and come to school every week for lessons." "No problem, Niloyda.” And I accidently said, “You keep it for few days while I fix a safe place to keep the guitar." He said with little annoyed, "What do you mean by that? But you said your Mom knows you're buying a guitar." Niloyda lost his patience and tried to hand me the guitar he was holding, leaning towards me and I said, "Oh no, please you take it." And then I suddenly jumped from the running rickshaw to the street! I saw Niloyda's eyes got bigger, he didn’t understand what’s happening, who is this weird kid? Actually, the rickshaw was passing our house. I said aloud as the rickshaw was passing by, "Niloyda, this is my house. It’s already late evening, I’ve to be home by now.” Niloyda nudged his head saying, “You’re weird, kid.” Then he too shouted out in slightly louder voice as the rickshaw going forward, "Come tomorrow, and bring few cassettes from your treasure." He was laughing, I raised my hand and said, “I’ll come by tomorrow. Thank you Niloyda.” He started laughing again, the rickshaw took a turn and disappeared.
Next day, I went to visit Niloyda's house. His room was always vibrant with chats and music. It wasn’t different that day. I was sitting at a corner, Niloyda saw me after a little while and shouted, "So, my ‘parato bhai’ Mr. Milon, did you bring something for me to listen?" I got embarrassed again and handed him two cassettes. He said, "Let me see?" I said, "Berlin Wall Concert." "Oh! Roger Waters Live. The show that they did it after the Berlin Wall fell down. Snowy White on guitar, isn't it?" Niloyda started reading the covers and sleeves inside the cassettes. He said as if he found something, "Oh yeah, James Galway on flute in the song 'Mother' rendition, with Joni Mitchell. I heard about that, he played on the show. Galway's flute is so unique. Have you heard him before?" I said, "No, I never heard of him before." Niloyda laughed out loud and said, "Well, at last something you haven't heard before me." He laughed.
At one point he said, "Don't you want to take your lesson? You need to free your fingers first. Get the guitar from there..." I didn't like my first lesson. He showed me a painstaking finger exercise. Which I couldn't do at all. I thought he’ll show me few chords, but he said I still have a long way to go to able to do that. Also, that’s not how Niloyda teach. From then on I started going to Niloyda's house regularly. But often I don’t complete my lessons properly. Niloyda once became angry and said, "Why don't you come to the school for classes? You can't learn anything like this. Come to school regularly from now on." I said, "Niloyda, I thought a lot, I don't really need to be a ‘super guitarist’ like you. I just need to play fairly well and know the chords." Niloyda panicked and said, "Super guitarist! What’s that?" Then he smiled and said, "But yeah, you're right, not everyone needs to be the lead guitarist, if that’s what you mean…" I added, "Most of my friends are learning guitar. Two of my friends are already good at it, I don't need to be the lead guitarist anymore." He started laughing and said, "That's why we have drummer crisis, everyone wants to be a guitarist." Then he remembered something and said, “Hey, did you get me any cassette for me today?” I reached out to my pocket and I handed a cassette to him, "Here you go, Eric Johnson, you wanted to listen." “Right. Which album?”“Both. A side: Tones and B side: Ah Via Musicom.” Taking the cassette in hand, Niloyda said, "So what are you going to do in this band of your friends?" I said a little upset, "I haven't fixed it yet. I've written a few songs, but I’m not sure if they’re any better.” "Hey, it doesn't matter. Keep the spark alive. You just started…" Then Niloyda added something, I will never forget. He said, "Besides, there's nothing to learn from these twelve notes. First of all, you have to be a real musician mentally. Eventually you will get there if you stick to it long enough and keep doing music." I was inspired to hear this and said, "That's what you need to write down, Niloyda!" Niloyda laughed and said in a loud voice, "Sabash! Milon Saheb, go ahead. You got a perfect band attitude." I was so happy to hear this from Niloyda himself. He then said, "Whatever you do, you need to be full of dedication. You keep writing.” He added again, “You can also try singing, it is very useful for composition. You come to me whenever you want. You don’t need to follow strict rules of a guitarist." Then think of something and laughed, "Oh no, you have to come regularly and bring more cassettes for me." I joined him in laughter.
Those were the days.
