New Delhi, Aug 13: After his dream performance at the Parliament House, Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan still has an unfulfilled wish: To weave the magic of his shehnai at India
Gate, the symbol of martyrdom.
"I have performed almost everywhere in the country and
abroad but my one dream remains unfulfilled. I want to perform
at India Gate. If given a chance, I will play badhai," says
the maestro.
The Ustaad says, "I will play badhai, not raag... I will
request the government to arrange my programme at India Gate."
When asked about his most memorable performance, the
octogenarian artist becomes nostalgic as he recalls the first
Independence Day when India woke up to his melodious shehnai.
"I was playing shehnai with my brother and we were moving
towards red fort with the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad
and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru walking behind us.
Although Pt Nehru did not say a single word, I could see the
happiness on his face... He was listening to my shehnai and
liked it very much."
The Ustaad still remembers that he brought a thick khadi
sherwani, pyjama and shoes for that special performance and
kept them for years and years.
Bureau Report
