Bismillah Khan unique symbol of India's composite culture: Sonia

New Delhi, Aug 21 (UNI) Congress President Sonia Gandhi today expressed her profound grief at the passing away of shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, describing him as ''a unique symbol of legacy of India's composite culture.'' ''He not only brought name and fame to India in the realm of music, but was also a unique symbol of the legacy of the thousand-year-old composite culture within the country,'' she said in her condolence message.

''At the time of this tragedy, I express my healtfelt sympathies to his family members, thousands of his disciples, well-wishers and fans,'' Mrs Gandhi added.

The Congress party also condoled the death of the eminent musician, saying his name and his instrument, Shehnai,had become synonomous with each other. It described him as ''a man of simple living and high thinking''.

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