E-Paper
Maestro gets cheque from PM
PRIME MINISTER Dr Manmohan Singh sent a cheque of Rs 2.51 lakh to Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, which was delivered at his residence on Thursday. Expressing sincere regards towards the outstanding contribution of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan in the field of music Dr Singh?s message and the cash amount was handed over to him by Varanasi divisional commissioner VV Singh Vishven and district magistrate Rajiv Agrawal and the letter at his Sarai Harha residence this morning.
PRIME MINISTER Dr Manmohan Singh sent a cheque of Rs 2.51 lakh to Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, which was delivered at his residence on Thursday.
Expressing sincere regards towards the outstanding contribution of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan in the field of music Dr Singh’s message and the cash amount was handed over to him by Varanasi divisional commissioner VV Singh Vishven and district magistrate Rajiv Agrawal and the letter at his Sarai Harha residence this morning.
The letter reads as:
Dear Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib,
You are the pride of India and represent one of the finest notes in India’s cultural expression. Your Shehnai has marked some of the most important moments of India’s history. I pray that your enchanting notes would be with us for a long, long time. I am enclosing a small offering (Rs 2.51 lakh) of regards on behalf of a grateful nation.
Apparently overwhelmed to meet Bismillah Khan, the divisional commissioner also got an autograph from the Bharat Ratna, who recited a folk song ‘Kajari’ as ‘Nahi Laage Jiyara Hamar, Naiharva.........’ The Shehnai maestro reiterated that music is his life. “Chahe khuch ho jaye, sur hamse nahin chhutega” (no matter what may come, I would never leave the music), he confessed.
