How bad was lockdown really?

Over that past year I’m sure many of us, whether we meant to or not, have sat confined in our homes grumbling away with unwavering exasperation about the ruinous impact Covid-19 has had on our year. Others have generated a peaceful time for reflection and growth. But, for too long we have striven with shallow assiduity to dowse the pandemic in black and white paint. Complaining that we can’t go to that concert, we can’t go shopping, we can’t go to work, we can’t go to school, or, we simply take it upon ourselves to revel in a soothing period of relaxation. For many, this validates the privileged position we are in.

What do the hauntingly beautiful echoes of a traditional English carol, the joyful bliss a Hindustani classical song, jazz, trumpets and an organ in a Swiss church and George Frideric Handel all have in common? If you said music, you’d be correct. You’d be even more correct if you said Calcutta Rescue’s Christmas concert. Christmas is about giving and love. We’ve heard that one before, but it must recognised that not all of those worldwide have the liberty and advantages that many of us have. On Sunday 13th December, Calcutta Rescue, a charity aiming to eliminate poverty in the Kolkata slums, presented an exuberant and spirited production that cultivated a kaleidoscope of cultures and music and dissipated some of the privileged paint that has been poured over the pandemic, all in the name of charity. Topped with the world premiere of Don’t Change, a new song by musical pioneer, Biddu.

The event was not a fundraiser and purely done to proliferate Christmas joy and spirit, where we were taken on a journey from southern England, to Toronto, to America, to Majorca, to Switzerland and all the way back to Kolkata. Climaxing with the exquisitely bewitching storytelling of Arko Mukhaerjee (of course accompanied by Koustav Dey on the guitar!) that moved presenter, Jaydeep, to tears.

It was July when Calcutta Rescue first thought to host an online broadcast that received over thirty-thousand views. Their aim? To raise money for relief for individuals and communities in the Kolkata slums that have suffered immensely throughout the coronavirus crisis. Calcutta Rescue are only a small charity, but the work they have done to alleviate the hardships of those in the Kolkata slums has been immeasurable and instrumental. They have four decades of experience and have provided food, healthcare, education and sanitation to contribute to communities and allow people to escape the cyclic entrapment of poverty. One of the most delightful manifestations of Calcutta Rescue’s work was the performance of Faizan Hussain, a resident of the Kolkata slums who had participated in the Slum Jam scheme, provided by Calcutta Rescue, that allows children to become encompassed in the world of music – Faizan performed a charming version of  John Lennon’s classic, Imagine, on the piano.

The concert was a playground for both the critically esteemed and those who had never publicly performed before – all of whom were excellent. The premiere of legend Biddu’s new song, Don’t Change, was calm, soothing and with a resonant message, especially for this year. Similarly, professional percussionist and pakhavaj player Rishabh Dhar provided an effortless and precise performance.

It seems that supporting Calcutta Rescue is one of the only positive infections going round this year, as for many of the performers, both music and charity run through their veins. Fortunately, if this makes them start to feel ill they can probably be seen by Doctor Jack Preger MBE, the charity’s founder who has supplied free healthcare to over five-hundred thousand people on the streets and within the Kolkata slums since 1972. This amazing feat has earned him the title of the global ‘grandfather’ of street medicine [1]. Clearly, his healthcare methods are worthy of the acclaim, as Dr Jack only stopped working two years ago, at the age of 89 [2].

Organiser Sean Duggan brilliantly described the idea of postulating so much delight and said: "We wanted this online concert to bring musical joy to people around the world at the end of this most difficult year and, judging by the hundreds of comments, we have really achieved that. So many amazing performances, one of which moved the presenter so much he was in tears. Please watch and share the video so that many more people can enjoy a big dollop of musical joy this festive season!" Similarly, north-east London local James Coupland-Webb said “I think it’s a great idea for charities to launch Christmas concerts – not only does it raise awareness of charities themselves and the work they do, but it adds a bit of festive spirit that will encourage people to spread the word and donate to these charities. By getting performances and audiences together (even virtually) these Christmas concerts really give a sense of community spirit which encourages more and more people to help.” Alina Iqbal agreed, adding that "in times like these it's a sense of normality."

Ultimately, Calcutta Rescue’s Christmas Joy Concert was a wonderful melting pot of music and a cultural fusion that allowed not only for identification of how fortunate we truly are compared to many others, but also for the genuine diffusion of the glee and joy that we have been lacking recently, leaving a lamentable year with a sanguine and buoyant end. 

Calcutta Rescue’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calcuttarescue

If you wish to make a donation to Calcutta Rescue or would like to learn more, please visit their website: https://calcuttarescue.org

For a full list of the brilliant acts (every one of which is worth watching) in the concert, see below:

Hannah Limbrick, UK

Paromita De, Canada

Al’s Kitchen, UK

Rishabh Dhar, India

Liane Caroll, UK

Lorien Brownlea, USA

Jolly Good Friends Quartet, UK

Samantak Sinha, India

Trumpet Joy and Organ Trio, Switzerland

Al Hug, Switzerland

Nabarupa Mukherjee, UK

Frank Moon, UK

Biddu, UK

Pocket Watch, UK

A performance by some children in the Slum Jam choir

Faizan Hussain (also part of Slum Jam), India

Arko Mukhaerjee feat. Koustav Dey

Lillian Van Dam, The Netherlands

Sattam Deb, USA

David Lurey, Majorca, Spain

Bibliography

[1] "Dr Jack," Calcutta Rescue, [Online]. Available: https://calcuttarescue.org/dr-jack-preger/. [Accessed 14 December 2020].

[2] "Calcutta Rescue Christmas Joy Concert," Calcutta Rescue, 13 December 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VPUnSVUeRk. [Accessed 13 December 2020].