Computer software and hardware, and folk music from the land of blue hills and the red river – both go well with this Assamese NRI originally hailing from Jorhat. In fact, this computer engineer from the famed Silicon Valley is so adept at handling both the machine and music that she is a name to be reckoned with in her adopted country. She has received widespread acclaim for her unique presentation in various stage performances in the United States of America, besides her homeland Assam. She is Moushumi Goswami, who has just completed work on an album of Goalporiya Lokageet.

Moushumi developed her propensity for of folk music, especially Goalporiya Lokageet, since her childhood, and proximity to various reputed folk singers during her early days inspired her to augment her taste for this particular folk form.

It’s heartening that at a time when the world of music is engulfed by western music – her adopted country America can well be termed a hub of western music – Moushumi has been sincerely working towards popularising Goalporiya Lokageet among music lovers abroad. However modest may be her effort, this will at least contribute to the cause of saving the melodies of this beautiful art form from dying a natural death. Saying so, her latest endeavour of bringing out an audio album will undoubtedly help propagate Goalporiya folk music among the generations to come.

The album titled Prabasat Goalporiya Sur was completed during her recent visit to Assam. The recording of this album containing six melodious Goalporiya Lokageets was done at Audio World Studio at Jorhat with music arrangement by Achyut Bora. The other singer in the album is Ankur Borthakur. The album, produced by her husband Hemanga Ranjan Nath, is expected to hit the market during the end of this month.

Daughter of Pradip Goswami and Makhani Goswami of Jorhat, Moushumi, apart from singing, also devotes herself to choreography and has already had a number of dance performances to her credit. Her specially choreographed Bihu dance, performed in different places in the United States, was highly appreciated by one and all. Now she plans to add further flavour to her choreography by infusing rhythmic footsteps to the tunes of Goalporiya folk music and presenting it before an international audience. Let’s hope this humble effort of Moushumi in presenting Goalporiya Lokageet with choreography will create an awareness of Assamese music and culture among the international audience.

By Barnali Konwar on The Assam Tribune, Guwahati.