E-Paper
Ustad played a key role in maintaining peace & harmony
THE DEMISE of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, the shehnai magician of shehnai, has sent shockwaves among the ?peace lovers? in the society. The 91-year-old shehnai maestro was a living legend and strong signature of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (communal harmony). It was Khan Saheb who played a significant role in maintaining brotherhood and communal harmony among a cross-section of society after March 7 twin bomb blasts at Sankat Mochan Temple this year.
THE DEMISE of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, the shehnai magician of shehnai, has sent shockwaves among the ‘peace lovers’ in the society.
The 91-year-old shehnai maestro was a living legend and strong signature of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (communal harmony). It was Khan Saheb who played a significant role in maintaining brotherhood and communal harmony among a cross-section of society after March 7 twin bomb blasts at Sankat Mochan Temple and Varanasi Cantonment Railway Station in Varanasi this year.
Bismillah Khan had strongly condemned the twin bomb blasts and termed the blasts as an attack on the entire humanity. “There is only one God — name it Allah or Rama,” the shehnai maestro had said.
“The culture of Varanasi is a confluence of different culture and no one could hurt it,” he had stated.
“The twin bomb blasts in the city was an attack on humanity executed by some inhuman persons,” Bismillah Khan had said.
The Hindu-Muslim unity showed that no anti-national or anti-social elements could break the cultural tradition of communal harmony and peace in Varanasi.
Eminent scholars of Varanasi believe that Khan Saheb made enormous efforts to disseminate communal harmony and maintain peace and brotherhood among a cross-section of society throughout his life.
Mufti-e-Shehar, Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani said, “Khan Saheb was the Rehnuma (patron) of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and his demise is a great shock to the peace-lovers.”
Nomani, who had issued ‘Fatwa’ against those responsible for March 7 twin bomb blasts in Varanasi this year said that the demise of Bismillah Khan has come as a great shock for the secular minded people in the society.
Mahant of Sankat Mochan Temple Prof Veer Bhadra Mishra in his condolence message said, “Bismillah Khan was a great icon of communal harmony and his statement on twin bomb blasts played an important role in maintaining peace in the hours of crisis.”
Prof Mishra said, “Khan Saheb had a great affection towards Kashi and Ganga and if people follow the path shown by Bismillah Khan then no one could distort communal harmony of the nation.”
