I was born in north Calcutta’s Tala, which is famous for the water tank and pumping station. Ours was a big joint family, and we used to live with my grandfather, uncles and cousins.

We — my parents, elder brother and I — later moved to Bagbazar. It was only after shifting to that house that I started going to Kasimbazar High School. I joined the school when I was in Class II. Before that, I did my studies at home. I still remember those days — how I used to practise handwriting with my mother. It wasn’t anything like today, when a student is burdened by so many books that he can hardly walk.

I also started learning music when I was about eight years old. I started playing the harmonium. My father, Pandit Biswanath Bose, was a tabla player and my mother, Bharati Bose, was a sitarist. I began to take lessons in classical music from her. She was my first guru.

Both my parents being musicians, music was in my blood. However, I did not neglect my studies. I was quite a good student and never went for private tuition. I was blessed with a sharp memory and had no trouble memorising all that the teacher said in class.

By the time I was 12, I could play Hindi songs very well on the harmonium. But my passion for classical music took over by the age of 16. I was inspired by Pandit V.G. Jog, who was a great musician and is still my idol. I also took lessons from Pandit A.T. Kanan, who also inspired me a lot. I was fortunate that I could learn from many gurus.

There’s one incident that I still remember. It happened when I was about 9 years old. Our entire extended family had gathered at my uncles’ place for some auspicious occasion. My maternal grandfather called all of us young ones and asked us to perform something — be it an instrumental or vocal piece. Everybody performed, including my elder brother, who played the tabla, and my cousins, who sang. But when my turn came, I could not perform anything because I felt shy.

My grandfather was very angry with me and chastised me, saying: ‘‘It is a shame that you can’t sing, being a musician’s son.’’ These words hurt a lot. I couldn’t sleep that night and I decided that I would work very hard to become a musician.