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Homesickness is a weird culprit. It makes us say and do the corniest things, but it also brings out the best in us. It makes jingoistic Kolkatans out of most indifferent denizens. Ask Rajarshi Aich, a 25-year-old engineer who is settled in Baroda now. “When you are away from the city, you even start missing the potholed roads, the traffic jams and the pollution,”says Aich.
Aich's yearning for his city translated into music. “When I met a few like-minded Bengalis in Baroda we hit it off immediately. Soon we started jamming together and Chiron was born,” says Aich. Within months, Chiron was born. “We are a band of six members. The lead vocals include Sumanta and Ankana, both trained singers, who like to experiment with different types of music and harmonization” says Aich. The lead vocalisst are ably supported by Rajarshi Sengupta in keyboard, Tarun in rhythm guitar and additional vocals, and by Ankur in drums. Tarun is from UP, but is an avid fan Mohiner Ghoraguli.
Chiron's music, claims Aich, is an ode to the city of Kolkata. “Our music is for them who enjoy the beauty of the Victoria in a lazy winter morning, for them who wander aimlessly in College Street, who breathe Trincas and Someplace Else, and are still inspired by the multiformity and depth of music,” he says.
Being the only Bangla band in Baroda has its share of advantages, claims Aich. “Baroda has a sizable Bengali population. But more importantly, the Bengali community here is culturally active. Which means we get to perform in all the important functions of the city,”says Aich. But they are also aware of the somewhat limited scope of success of their band in a city like Baroda. “Ideally, we would want to be in Kolkata and perform for the people here. Obviously Non-Bengalis wouldnt be interested in our music, which is why we also play Hindi folk music,” says Aich.
