To understand and fully comprehend the man and his metaphysics, the easiest and the most suitable way would be to delve into the depths of the covert messages and cloistered pleas within his songs. Each word, each line that he sings has a meaning, from evidently nonsensical versifications to simple words that elicit crystalline messages. And this is precisely what is behind the legacy of Birendranath Datta. For the sober Shanti Niketan graduate, who maintains a very low profile in his usual public life, it has been a fulfillment of a dream to have arrived at such a position, specially when his first choice has always been to promote culture through education, rather than music, as he believes culture to be a totality and education a part of it. But it is really surprising to see that through both the ways, be it as a veteran academician or as a great singer, he has arrived at the same place where everybody would like to be. But did he ever have to make any extra effort, make any sacrifice to be where he is now? "No", said the singer, simply. "Looking back, I can say there was no struggle at all that I had to go through. It was just a natural process, that has brought me to this position." The long evening hour, that we spent in his Silpukhuri residence, made the singer recollect some of his closest memories. Back from a recent visit to the US, the memories of the Niagara were still fresh in his eyes while we talked about the musical trends now and then. Ifound that it had pumped some wild verve inside the man to create something new, once again.

Born at Nagaon in 1933, Datta however spent most of his childhood at Goalpara and it was from the Goalpara High School that he passed the Metric examination. Renowned singers are generally taught their music lessons in the very formative years, in their childhood, but for Birendranath Datta it was a different story. "The gramophone was my teacher", said the singer when asked about his early influences and quite interestingly he never had any kind of formal training in music. He auditioned for the All India Radio at the initiative of his friends while he was in the ninth standard, but his young endeavor very soon succumbed to the vehement objections raised by his father. "I was about to appear in the Metric soon, so I decided to leave all these, and believe me, I was never sad", Datta remarked. However for brilliant Birendra, the crown was there anyway although by the time he passed the Metric examination occupying the fifth position, music seemed a lost dream.

But as soon as he got himself admitted in to Cotton College, everything took a turn. Apart from singing in day to day college functions he also started writing songs in Hindi when late Brojen Barua discovered him and signed him to sing for his forthcoming Assamese film Smrtir Parash. "Things continued this way till I passed the I Sc exam, and after that I moved to Shanti Niketan to pursue my graduation studies". For young Birendra, Shanti Niketan provided an altogether different atmosphere where the talent inside him began blossoming. "Shanti Niketan opened many windows for me. I still remember the Boitalik (prayer session) when we hummed prayers every morning," said Datta. It was at Shanti Niketan that he learnt Rabindra Sangeet and by the time he finished his BA in 1952, he was a singer having diverse musical tastes.

Returning back to Guwahati, he started his teaching career by joining the city’s B Barooah College as a lecturer in Political Science and later served in various colleges of the state. "I never wanted to project myself as a singer, but as a teacher, and frankly speaking I have done my duty as a teacher as honestly and devotedly as possible," Biren Datta asserted.

But slowly, people began to recognise him more as a singer than as a teacher and interestingly Birendranath Datta along with Tafajjul Ali and Jyotirmay Kakati even set a new trend of romantic Assamese music that people still remember. A renowned professional in the field of folklore studies and research, Biren Datta began giving newer dimensions to his music and his studies of the folktunes of Assam and the region helped him in making innovations in the art form. However he also learnt the techniques of music from personalities like Dayal Chandra Sutradhar, Gandharam Bayan, Girikanta Mahanta and others.

In 1961, two to Datta’s gramophone records were released by HMV that contained previously released popular songs like Dhun Dhun Dhunia, Bahagar Dupariya, Sou Patharar Kahua Phool and others. He also continued singing for the radio which had made him popular among the listeners of the state. But from mid ’85 onwards, the gap between the singer and the radio began widening day by day as he needed to concentrate more on his teaching career.

After retiring from the Gauhati University in 1995, he was immediately made to join the newly established Tezpur University on a contractual basis for three years. On March ’99 he left Tezpur University too, after successfully playing his role there. His long forty two year old teaching career, within which time, apart from imparting quality education and guidance to his students, he also authored about twentyfive books, finally came to an end.

However, for the massive fan base scattered all around, he remains the same old eternal singer, who is one among the few in this line to have left such a powerful mark and that too without concentrating much on the same. Biren Datta has never performed on stage, nor on the television. It is however just his association with the All India Radio, his two full length gramophone records released in 1961 and one EP (both produced by HMV) and two audio cassettes (the third one titled Pranar Tirtha Jwal is slated to be released soon), that has made him one of the most loved and respected singers of the state. About his songs, Biren Datta says, "I did and still insist on the subject matter and good lyrics. Most of my songs carry an in-depth meaning, an underlying emotion, like Manar Khabar (one of Datta’s signature tunes, which is based on Ravana, a long verse written by poet Navakanta Barua) which I selected only because of the inner sense attached to it that depicted the true, emotional love of the demon king Ravana for goddess Sita." And like Manar Khabar, most of his songs are full of deep thoughts which make his music truly unforgettable. Bahudin Bokulor Gondh Poa Naai, Meli Dilo Man, Rohimalaa Uronir Maajere, Sou Sirish Daalat, Tomaar Kaarane Jaau, Aahinak Kone Anane, Mou Daaponar, Sita Banabaash, Bogoli Bogaa Phot Di Ja, Jilir Maate, O Ghan Chirikaa, Barashaa Tomaar, Aakaashe Botaahe, Aakaash Aamaak Akani Aakaash Diya and the list goes on. Very different from his contemporary singers in terms of selection of the subjects and his singing style, Birendranath Datta will remain a trendsetter, forever...