Bismillah's family demands concert at India Gate on Aug. 21

Varanasi, July 23 (UNI) Elated with the inclusion of a chapter on Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan in the NCERT curriculam, the shehnai legend's family today demanded a special concert at the India Gate on August 21, the first death anniversary of Khan Sahib.

''Der Aaye Duroost Aaye'' (better late than never)'', said Ustad Naiyyar Hussain 'Bismillah,' musical successor and second of the five sons of shehnai maestro, while talking to UNI here today.

''This goes on to speak volumes about the central government resolve of educating students of English medium schools with the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the country,'' he maintained.

In its recently published Class IXth English Book, the NCERT has devoted an entire chapter on the legendary musician, who died at the age of 90 last year.

The 60-year-old son of the Bharat Ratna, laced the happiness of the family with a long-pending demand of organising a special concert at the India Gate -- the last wish of Khan Sahib which remained unfulfilled due to security reasons.

''The time has come when the government in New Delhi fulfilled Khan Sahib's last wish of performing at the India Gate. He may not be alive, but his music is still alive among his sons Naiyyar, Zamin, Nazim and nephew Mumtaz,'' said Ustad Naiyyar Hussain who is slated to perfom in the national capital alongwith his brothers on July 29.

''We will make a humble request to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and important union ministers likely to attend the July 29 concert, to organise a memorable concert of shehnai by us at the India Gate on August 21, to mark the first death anniversary of Khan Sahib,'' Ustad Naiyyar Hussain maintained.

''We want to fulfill the last wish of our illustrious father as soon as possible. And there will be no better way but to perform at the India Gate,'' Khan Sahib's youngest son and Tabla player Nazim Hussain said.

The entire musical group headed by Ustad Naiyyar Hussain, which recently performed at a concert in Salt Lake (Kolkata) is likely to perform at Jaipur in September next to be followed by another concert at Hyderabad.

Interestingly, it was at a concert in Japiur only where Khan Sahib declared Naiyyar as his musical heir in 2005.

Talks are also underway with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to perform at concert overseas, Ustad Naiyyar Hussain maintained.

UNI