Ganesh Chandra earns a living by selling flutes on the streets of Rajshahi city. Although selling flutes is his livelihood, his life is intertwined with the sound of the flute. He has been doing this work for about 45 years. Once upon a time, passersby would stop to listen to the tune of his flute, but various forms of modern music have taken over that place. Still, Ganesh Chandra believes that the sound of the flute will never get old. That is why he still walks around with that flute.
When asked about his profession, Ganesh Chandra said, "At first, my business was doing well. All the students and teachers of the college used to buy flutes. But now, due to mobile phones, TV and digital media, people's interest in music has decreased.
Ganesh Chandra, a resident of Puthia Upazila of Rajshahi, has three sons. All of them are busy with their own families. He runs his family with his wife Sagari Rani and his family with what he earns.
Ganesh Chandra started selling flutes around Rajshahi College 45 years ago. At that time, the flute was very popular with college students, teachers and local people. ‘When I started, people were very interested in music. Flute was played at various college functions and in student gatherings,’ he recalled.
He has also been selling flutes at Rajshahi University for a long time. Apart from the college and university, he has sold flutes in various places in Bagha, Natore, Bogura Sadar and Santahar.
Ganesh Chandra once said that his flute selling business was very profitable. Students used to buy flutes for their hobby. A kind of musical atmosphere was created. Now that interest has decreased a lot.
He is concerned that people’s interest in traditional arts like flute has decreased due to the advancement of modern technology. He feels that the tradition of music is being lost due to the dominance of smart phones, TV and digital media.
Now he goes out with more than 100 flutes every day, but most days none are sold. Running a business has become a challenge for him as demand has decreased with age.
Ganesh Chandra makes his own flutes. He collects the bamboo needed to make flutes from different places in Dhaka. His flutes cost between Tk. 100 and Tk. 500. His love for flutes was born when he saw his father singing in the atmosphere of his childhood. That love still inspires him to play the flute.
Ganesh Chandra's life is not just a story of his personal struggle; it is a reflection of the crisis of traditional arts due to modernity. The enthusiasm for music that was once present in institutions like Rajshahi College has completely diminished today.
Yet Ganesh Chandra still believes that music will find a place in people's hearts and that his profession will one day find life again. Today, no one may buy flutes, but he believes that one day people will return to tradition.