These past two years have put us on an emotional roller coaster ride with the fear and urge of stepping outside, ailment, untimely death, pain, loss of hope, and much more. It’s been hard on each one of us, irrespective of monetary status. In turn, almost all countries have reported cases of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Whether you agree or not, we are all sailing in the same boat.
In such a time, Bikramjit Baulia, a folk singer from Assam, has come forward to do his part in bringing peace to people’s hearts. COVID-19 patients and their kin call him, requesting to hear the song of their choice or something Baulia handpicks for them.
Bengali singer Lopamudra Mitra inspired this Silchar resident to start the initiative. After that, he announced on his Facebook account that he is willing to sing for anyone who wants him to.
The 33-year-old singer likes to replace his original surname Kar with Baulia for his love for Bauls (Bengali folk singers). He had also auditioned for the singing reality show Saregamapa Bengali. However, due to his folk accent, he couldn’t make it to the finals. This didn’t dampen his zeal, and Bikramjit continues to sing wherever he gets the opportunity. Additionally, he earns his bread and butter by working at his father’s medicine shop.
In the first COVID wave last year, Bikramjit had tested COVID positive. At that time, he struggled with a depressive state of mind and understood the mental trauma of the pandemic. This inspired him more to help people with his music therapy.
“Music is my passion and I gain positivity from music. With this campaign, I am getting a chance to connect with people and listening to their stories. This is making me more positive and optimistic. As a singer, I always believed in the healing power of music. I thought it would really bring in some joy or relief…maybe for a few minutes at least,” shares Bikramjit with LifeBeyondNumbers.
In the following few days, Baulia got no calls; many even deemed it as a publicity stunt which he averts, saying that he loves singing for people. Then six days later, there was a swarm of requests not just from Assam, but Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and even Bangladesh, which hasn’t stopped to date. Although he’s a maestro of folk music, he has been singing across a broad genre as per the demands.
These calls have come from patients, not just in home isolation from hospitals as well. And it’s not just one person per call; many have said that the call was on loudspeaker, so more people listen to it together.
“I have since sung a variety of songs for hundreds of people recovering from COVID-19 infection. I have also had to deviate from an array of Bengali folk songs to sing a few Hindi songs for some infected youth in Assam and people from Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Pune, and elsewhere in India,” he says.
#UNUSUAL_COVID_HERO: Meet Bikramjit Kar (Bauliya), a 33-yr-old from Silchar, Assam, who’s sings over phone for Covid positive patients to boost their mental health. He’s sang for nearly 200 such patients, who called him after he shared a post on social media. Hat’s off
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The singer is well aware and concerned about the stigma the pandemic had brought. So, he even sings for those who are not infected and just need to feel better in this morbid period.
“People are not only battling the virus, but also the infection of society. I used to see that if vendors sold vegetables to a household with an infected person, others would stop buying from him. Many others who are not Covid positive have also called and requested me to sing. I understand that everyone is feeling lonely and depressed these days and I can relate to it, as I have been struggling with my mental health as well,” he said.
Besides this, Bikramjit has also been delivering medicines for free to patients and elders living in the area. However, he never misses any of the song requests.
“I may have missed a few if I’m running an errand or things are too busy at the shop. But I always try to get back to people later,” Bikramjit says.
The Bengali Music fraternity has praised Bikramjit’s move that is helping so many who are struggling with their mental health. The singer is overwhelmed by the response so far.
“I had someone, whom I had spoken to twice or thrice, call me to say that they tested negative. Surely, that person had no reason to keep me in the loop. But since my music helped them, they said it was only normal to let me know they have recovered,” he concludes.
Bikramjit is just a call away if you are affected by COVID. Just call him at +91-7002413822.