Born and brought up in a royal family, whose lineage dates back to Emperor Jahangir....., her talent was visible since childhood. She was fond of singing rustic ballad songs during those tender years, without any fear or prejudice. Her interest was even criticized by some as they felt that it would hamper her prospects for marriage. As in those days girls from good families singing rustic ballads was not considered polite. But,she did not give up.

She was the adorable daughter of Lalji, as he was popularly known. Her father’s actual name was Kumar Prakitesh Chandra Barua. He gave her enough moral support to pursue her interest in Goalparia music in spite of all odds. Can you guess who is she?

Yes, you are right she is the Empress of Goalpariya music and pride of Asom Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Protima Pandey Barua. She was born in the auspicious day of Mahalaya on October 3, 1935 in Calcutta (now Kolkata).She did her early schooling in the city’s Gokahale Memorial School. Later she returned to her own native place in Gauripur and studied in Gauripur Girls’ High School.

She did learn Ravindra Sangeet from her school, but she never had formal training in music. She used to say candidly that her father’s Hati Mahal was in fact her music institute. She had great respect for her guru Bhaben Singha Roy. Actually he was the chief Mahout of her father. She was born to be a singer without any ego. It is said that her interest in music was so very intense that she used to learn and memorise all the songs sung even by the Muslim maids in her home, from the fisherman and so on.

Her talent recognised for the first time when she was noticed by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika at a jalsa in Gauripur. This shy teenager was initially nervous to sing before a genius of such international repute. But her talent mesmerized the legend to the maximum At that very instant he predicted that she can take Goalpariya music to great extent. These prophesy was established without fail. She is the one who introduced Goalpariya music with the outside world. So much so, that, the mention of the word Goalpariya reminds anyone and everyone of Protima Pandey.

She was also awarded Padmashree and Sangeet Natak Academy Award. But, in spite of that success never uprooted her feet from the soil. She was equally down to earth as ever. She maintained a very low profile life.

Even after her death she is and will be in our hearts forever. Recently, that is on 27th December 2008 her statue was unveiled at the Chandmari Swahid Udyan., to pay tribute to the legend on her sixth death anniversary. This was done on the support of the All Assam Students Union (AASU). On the same occasion the Pratima Pandey Memorial Award was also handed over formally to noted musician Tulsi Neog Ojha