Giri Githani, we take the privilege to present befosre you the first ever interview of one the greatest Bishnupriya Manipuris, Ishalpa Brajo Kumar Sinha popularly known as Pocha.
BM org: Ishalpa Girokore www.bishnupriyamanipuri.org  or torofetto homa thail.
Brajo Kumar Girok: Bor Douri. Mor ashirbad thail.
BM org: When did you start singing?
Brajo Kumar Girok: Since I was 10.
BM org: Why did you decide to be an Ishalpa, our readers would be delighted to know.
Brajo Kumar Girok: See, music is in my blood. My grandfather was a renowned Ishalpa. Music was not a part of our lives. It was life. I connect with God when I sing. I am 77 now. It’s close to six decades. I don’t breathe. I sing.
BM org: Please tell us some of your memorable moments that you experienced as one of the best Ishalpas of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community?
 Brajo Kumar Girok: Difficult question. Every Pala is a pilgrimage for me. Every Raas is sacred. It’s a different feeling when you sing for God and when people appreciate (Prem kortara ubaka).
BM org: But is there any moment which you call special?
Brajo Kumar Girok: The year 1954.
BM org: Can you share with us why?
Brajo Kumar Girok: Do you know Geetiswami?
BM org: Yes.
Brajo Kumar Girok: Geetiswami once came to a Pala in 1954. He saw me perform. That time we used to sing in Bengali in a Pala or a Raaj. So after the Pala, he came to me and asked why we can’t sing our songs in Bishnupriya Manipuri. It was then, that very year, I began singing in our language. It’s a beautiful feeling to sing in Bishnupriya Manipuri. Trust me.
BM org: What do you think of the current generation of Ishalpas, we mean the youngsters who have taken up the art?
Brajo Kumar Girok: Not great. But you can’t blame them. Which gaurapa (young man) is going to take a risk to be a full time Ishalpa. Where is the money? Till you don’t fix the economics, music can’t survive on its own.
BM org: Very true. But it’s very important that youngsters take up this art.
Brajo Kumar Girok: Absolutely. Gaurapeis must take up this art. Nailete Ishalpa amaar shomaje aar neioitai. We must keep this beautiful form of art alive. We need more Ishalpas, more Dakulas. They are the souls of our culture.
BM org: Thank you for your time. It was indeed a privilege.
Brajo Kumar Girok:  Bor Douri tumare.

With that we concluded the interview. It was time for him to rest. We wish we could hear him sing. Ishalpa Braja Kumar Girok sings even now. Every day, like a prayer.  He stays in Krishnanagar, Dullobchorra, Assam.
www.bishnupriyamanipuri.org  felt blessed speaking to the living legend of the Bishnupriya Manipuri community.