OUR
DIRECTOR- MR. V. K. VIJ
Santosh
Sinha’86
Imagine Pt. V. G. Jog, Singh Bandhu, Alarmel Valli or
Ravi Kiran performing in the Gymkhana Mess in front of Gymkhanites and Jamalpur
officers seated on the mess floor! Sounds strange, but actually true. And these
were not one-off performances. They took place every six months with unfailing
regularity. And the man, but for whom these stars would have never seen the
face of Jamalpur – Mr. V. K. Vij ,then Director IRIMEE.
Those were our SCA days (nine years back) and yours
truly was holding the post of Gymkhana Cultural Secretary. Through friends at
IIT Delhi contact was established with Mr. Kiran Seth, IIT professor and
founder President of SPIC-MACAY
(Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music & Culture amongst Youth).
Impressed with Jamalpur Gymkhana credentials, an invitation was extended to
attend the annual convention of SPIC-MACAY at Pune. Mr. Vij was more than
prompt in despatching me. During the convention, Jamalpur Gymkhana was formally
inducted into the SPIC-MACAY family and a local Jamalpur chapter established.
The first series of program were called LEC-DEMS
(Lecture-demonstrations). Artists were required to lecture briefly on the
nuances of their instruments and notes being played before giving a full scale
demonstration. However, invitation to artists meant paying for their to and fro
travel, arrangement for their local transportation, boarding and lodging
(artists performed for free). While boarding and lodging of eminent artists was
Gymkhana’s privilege, Mr. Vij pitched all other areas to make the visit of
artists a distinct possibility.
Performances were in lecture form and the artists were
visiting lecturers for the purpose. All artists were accorded traditional
Railway hospitality due to visiting lecturers. Things took a coincidental turn
when Singh Bandhu landed at Kiul station one fine morning at 0300 hrs enroute
to Jamalpur. They were overwhelmed to find that their further journey to
Jamalpur was by a special carriage. It was the first time they had travelled by
a special carriage. Jamalpur became a favourite with artists Bihar circuit, so
much so that artists from even West Bengal circuit could be enticed. It,
therefore, came as no surprise that soon after Pt. VG Jog agreed to recitals at
Jamalpur. The institution of Jamalpur Gymkhana fascinated him and hospitality
left him speechless.
And Mr. Vij who made everything above possible, is no
more! Words fail me in describing the shock at the demise of this father figure
of then SCAs. the propensity of the act is numbing. How could nature be so
cruel! May be God needed him more.