Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away today. A producer of melody of the old school and one with a child like laughter will be missed by the generations who listened and enjoyed his kind of music among whom I count myself.
I remember once watching a television programme in which he said, 'what is better than doing riyaz on the banks of the ganga, watching the crowds of Benaras and having the prashad of the Vishwanathji ka mandir'. This is truely an Indian character. Benaras is only possible in India - the dirt, the pollution, the utter chaos everywhere and amidst all that the sadhus, the gangaji, the cremation that goes on, the serene sights...there is no place on earth like this for its diversity, its colours, its festive air, its utter craziness and its amazing sanity to go on. I have spent a whole night on the banks of the Ganges in this city listening to recital of bhajans...music is a nerve that maintains this city.
Gangaji, Benaras and Vishwanathji Mandir will miss their favourite shehnai player and India, a true Indian and a Master. In deep respect to an amazing performer who have given me hours of blissful listening to a classical music that is fast disappearing. I strike off from my wishlist today a long pending wish to listen to Ustad play the sad tunes that he did only in the Muharram procession at Benaras.
21st August 2006
