Roopchand Pakshi


Roopchand Pakshi was a Bengali poet, singer, composer, satirist, and performer of panchali, tappā, and dhap songs.

Early life

Roopchand Pakshi was born Roopchand Das Mahapatra in 1815 to Gourhori Das Mahapatra. His ancestral home was situated near Chilika Lake in what is now Odisha. The family migrated from Odisha to Calcutta during Pakshi's early years; he grew up and spent the rest of his life in the city. He studied at the Hare School at College Street. He trained under local music teachers, such as Golam Abbas Tabalchi, Chhotey Miah, and Ramchandra Banerjee.

Musical and literary contributions

Pakshi's musical and literary output frequently included satirical narratives and social commentary. He composed songs on a wide array of subjects. He routinely sang about contemporary topics, including the introduction of the railways, widow marriage, kanyādāna, and other things. Outside of his panchali, tappā, dhap, and baul compositions, Pakshi also performed devotional music. He called himself pakshi, literally meaning 'bird' in Bengali. He formed a troupe of performers called Pakshir Dal, and was colloquially known as the "bird king." Pakshi and his group were ganjika drinkers; cannabis was central to their craft and identity.
Pakshi was also noted for often combining Bengali and English in some of his compositions. An oft-cited lyric from a song of his in praise of Lord Krishna goes:

Let me go, o he dvārī
I visit to vaṃśīdhārī


Pakshi passed away around 1890.

Notable works

  • Sangeet Rasakallol
  • Kalikātā Barnan '
  • Helay Hāy Jāy '
  • Kāṭāli Kāl Hoyē Nākāl ''''