welfare of Indian artistes

[Guest guest]

Bismillah Khan pleads for welfare of Indian artistes

"I am an Indian!" he thundered

 

IANS

 

NEW DELHI: Celebrated octogenarian musician Bismillah Khan's laments

pour out of his soul like the wistful strains of his shehnai.

 

Shocking reports of the life of penury led by this winner of India's

highest civilian honour are only too fresh in people's minds.

 

"I am an Indian!" he thundered, speaking to reporters Wednesday at an

obscure hotel near the New Delhi Railway Station where he has loyally

stayed during every visit to the city in the last 22 years.

 

"I bear no grudges against anyone but if I think about the state of

artistes, then my shehnai will start giving off different notes. The

government should take care of all artistes.

 

"Regardless, I am an Indian and I will never give up my music."

 

On the eve of a historic recital in Parliament for MPs of both houses

Thursday, the wheelchair bound 87-year-old maestro was contemplative,

philosophical and given to frequent displays of his famed temper.

 

He said he was not ungrateful.

 

"I have utmost gratitude for whoever gave me anything, be it Rs.1 or

Rs.100,000. I pray for my benefactors. I was too weak to move but had

to muster the strength to come here and play inside Parliament."

 

Every now and then, the wizened face softened into a warm, nearly

toothless grin, betraying a sense of humour beneath the cranky

demeanour.

 

"Baba" (father) to all, he often tapped adopted daughter, singer Soma

Ghosh, on the head affectionately when she delighted him with a

rendition of "Kajri" singing.

 

Having received a somewhat belated acknowledgement from the

government in the form of the Bharat Ratna, the country's top

civilian honour, the temperamental musician is bitter that his sons

have not got the recognition they perhaps deserved.

 

"I am not asking for any big award, but at least a Padma Shri (one of

the highest civilian honours)? Why don't you invite them and listen

to them? Give them their due fees, their travel expenses and then

hear them play!"

 

Khan came sans his instrument - the shehnai that attained fame with

the skill of its most renowned player. But no one missed the music as

he burst into song every now and then, punctuating anecdotes with

snatches of Hindustani classical music straight from the soul.

 

For Khan, who is known to pray at his neighbourhood Hindu temple

before performing Muslim prayers, communal amity is a theme song.

 

"Music belongs to none yet belongs to all. It is neither Hindu, nor

Muslim. It can only be heard, not seen, just like god - whatever name

you call him."

 

He seemed to bask in the media attention but when the assault of

cameramen and reporters obscured his impromptu singing, he petulantly

refused to speak.

 

"You people are so heartless, so off-key, you keep making noise when

I am trying to sing. Go on - keep shouting, I will not say a word."

He had to be coaxed into answering questions from then on.

 

The artiste appeared annoyed by a question on his Parliament recital.

 

"I do not even know what is cooking for dinner at my place, how will

I know what will happen in the programme? I only care about my

coriander chutney, my daal (lentils) and my vegetables.

 

"I wanted to play for not only MPs but anyone who wants to hear my

music. But what can I do? Ask those who refuse (to open the

Parliament performance to the public)," he shrugged.

 

Would he play in Jammu and Kashmir? "I performed in Kashmir before

(India's) independence. I am willing to go again.

 

"I can go and play anywhere you want me to, provided my conditions

are fulfilled. The number one condition is that you pay me my price."