Varanasi, July 06: Bharat Ratna shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, in the news recently for his poor financial situation, today said he never performed for money and that
his main aim was to popularise Indian classical music.
In a signed press statement released here, Khan said, "my
main aim is to popularise Indian classical music."
"Whenever I went on foreign tours, besides performing in
big cities I also performed in smaller cities and in schools
as my aim was not to earn money but to popularise Indian
classical music," the maestro said.
Khan, who is in his late 80's now, said he loves India,
its people and its music and not money.
"I am standing at the crossroads of my life. It is my
desire that I should serve classical music with shehnai till
the end of my life," said khan, who recently received a
financial help of Rs two lakh from the prime minister's
national relief fund as well as Rs one lakh each from
President A P J Abdul Kalam and the Congress.
About his health, he said he has now recovered from the
illness but was still feeling weak.
Bureau Report
