Sachin Karta 

This book was published in 2005, as a tribute to the legendary musician S.D. Burman. Publisher: Parul Prakashani, Agartala; Price: Rs. 100/-; Cover design: Subrata Chowdhury.

Musician Sachin Debburman is popularly known as S.D, Burman throughout the country. But his identity in Tripura is - Sachin Karta who is a pride of Tripura. It is well known that Sachin Karta hails from the royal family of Tripura. But he conquered the hearts of the masses by his music only. Till now much has been written about him. He himself wrote a biographical work, 'Sargamer Nikhad' in Desh magazine. In addition, Sachin Karta has been alive in the memories of few veteran persons. When Karta reached the peak of his success, he was in Mumbai. Before that he spent about two decades in Kolkata. But his life in Agartala and Comilla is still not known to many people. In this book, depending on various sources, the author has tried to bind those days of his early life with a thread. Efforts have been made to present Sachin Karta's personal and creative life into two sections. Despite of being a scion of the Tripura's royal family why his birth and childhood passed in Comilla; how he has been deprived of the throne of Tripura - all have been narrated in this book. Some color pictures and songs of Sachin Karta have also found place in the book.

Newspaper Reports

Aajkal, October 1, 2005, Agartala edition: "....Pannalal Roy, in his book, has tried to paint a picture of early Comilla. It refers to the then cultural ambience in Comilla, acquaintance of Sachin Karta with Nazrul etc. It has also drawn an image of Agartala in the monarchical age. Interviews with some living members of the royal family has unearthed several unknown facts. That has led to few more questions. Did Sachin Karta have an emotional clash with the royal family towards the end? The author has tried to throw some light on this aspect. Some interesting information about Sachin Karta have also been included in this book. ....Some interviews have asserted the simple and sincere side of Sachin Karta's character.....We can summarize this book as an interesting reading and worth collecting..."

Ganashakti, February 26, 2006, Kolkata-16: ".....The people of Tripura have good reason to feel emotional about Sachin Debburman. The thought that Sachin Debburman belongs to Tripura itself is a matter of delight for them. Pannalal Roy, the author of this biographical work on Sachin Debburman himself is a resident of Tripura. However, his writing does not reflect undue emotion; rather he has tried to dwell on facts. The eventful life of Sachin Debbarman, through Comilla, Agartala, Kolkata, Mumbai, has come alive in his writing. Sachin Debbarman's journey to success was not at all smooth. He had to surpass many hurdles in the way. Pannalal Roy has very interestingly presented depicted this eventful life of Sachin Debburman....It is not an easy task to handle. His way of presentation made this book informative. On the other hand, too much of information has not also blocked the flow of narration.....Mr. Roy has limited his efforts to biographical aspects only. He endeavoured to give credit to his work. Thus, several songs sung by Sachin Debbarman have been compiled in this book.....An album of pictures, foreword by Nirendranath Chakraborty and beautiful cover design by Subrata Chowdhury are the added values of this book. We are grateful to Pannalal Roy for presenting us such a biographical work on the occasion of birth anniversary of Sachin Debburman...."

The Telegraph, February 24, 2005, Guwahati: ".....It has so far been an unresolved mystery as to why Burman turned his back on Tripura despite being a scion of the royal family and personifying the state in the national mainstream. More intriguing is how Bengal embraced him as its own - celebrated singer Manna De even wrote an article in a Bengali daily, describing the doyen of Indian music as a Bengali. Author and researcher Pannalal Roy says Burman became disillusioned with royalty in the wake of the uproar over his marriage to Meera Dasgupta in 1938. Meera Devi, the grand-daughter of Justice Raibahadur Kamalnath Dasgupta, belonged to the upper echelons of society in Dhaka and fell in love with the maestro when she was studying music. They married in Calcutta on February 10, 1938. Roy's book 'Sachin Karta', gives hitherto unknown details of the couple's courtship, their marriage and its aftermath.... S.D. was not invited to the wedding of Kirit Bikram, held in Mumbai in 1960. "I had written all the addresses on the invitation cards and I do not think Sachin Karta was invited, though he was in Mumbai", Kumar Sahadeb Bikram, a scion of the royal family, has been quoted as saying in Roy's book....."

Dainik Jugashankha, March 28, 2005, Silchar: "....How the scion of Tripura's royal family Kumar Sachin became the famous S.D. Burman - the author discussed the story of his exemplary rise in detail. The book also has mention about how Sachin Karta brought singers like Kishore Kumar and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay into the lime light in Bombay. The episode of cold war with Lata Mangeskar has also not been left out in the book. Why did Sachin Debburman not work with Lata for seven long years? - Many known and unknown facts came together in this book.

Deccan Herald, March 6, 2005, Bangalore: "Legendary musical genius S.D. Burman is being remembered in his home state Tripura....Pannalal Roy, an information officer with the Tripura Government, has a compilation of some interesting and untold stories of the celebrated son of the state,....Sachin Debburman was well known as 'Sachin Karta' in Tripura is still fondly remembered through the early Bengali folk songs that he composed. The book - Sachin Karta - was released on the occasion of his centenary celebrations......"

Daily Desher Katha, August 29, 2005, Agartala: "....After hundred years, a person has paid tribute to the great musician on behalf of the people of the state. And the person is none other than one of the renowned writers of Tripura, Pannalal Roy who has done this commendable job by writing a book titled 'Sachin Karta'. By this centenary homage to the great talent he has carved a niche for himself in the hearts of the people of Tripura. Dividing the entire book into twenty sections Mr. Roy has gifted us an overall evaluation of Sachin Karta....Hope this book will be liked and loved by all on the occasion of birth centenary of this great artiste. Because, reading of this book is a must to know the king of music closely".