Asgari laid to rest

Tikamgarh, MP, Aug 10 (UNI) Dhrupad exponent Asgari Bai has been laid to rest here with full state honours.

Senior officials of the district administration, local people's representatives and eminent citizens were present at last night's burial.

Asgari, once a court singer for a royal family, passed away early yesterday at her ancestral abode here following prolonged illness.

She was 88.

The artiste was bestowed with a range of accolades including the Padmashree. Her marriage with Agra-resident Chimanlal Gupta lasted 25 years and he predeceased her. Asgari is survived by four sons and three daughters.

Besides the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the doyenne was also decorated with the prestigious 'Tansen Samman' by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1985 and 'Shikhar Samman' the following year.

Anguished over squabbles between her children on government grants, Asgari last August expressed a desire to return to the government the honours bestowed on her in order to maintain the dignity of the awards.

UNI Team-AC LL KP2200