Bismillah -The Beginning, a movement

        New Delhi: Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan is a living legend. May be in his twilight days, yet a movement named "Bismillah -The Beginning" is gathering momentum as people from different walks of life are coming out in support of Bismillah Khan's last wish. The movement started by a journalist couple Shivnath Jha and his wife Neena Jha gained a victory of sorts after the Centre gave permission to the allow the Bharat Ratna shenai maestro to play the "Tune India" from his choice of place- India Gate, to pay tribute to the "unsung heroes of World War -I and for the global peace and security". Aptly titled "Antim Abhilasha" (the last wishes), Khan will be performing shehnai at India Gate on July 15, which will be a nostalgic trip for the nonagenarian living legend, as he had played shenai from the ramparts of the Red Fort when India got Independence on August 15, 1947.

           The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sripraksh Jaishwal, commending the efforts of the journalist also expressed his willingness to visit Bismillah Khan's house in Varanasi to pay his respect to the maestro. The movement which was launched by releasing a book by the Jha couple is slowly and steadily finding support. The book which was a monoraph on Ustad Bismillah Khan for the cause to protect musicians, artists, academicians, poets and others who have brought laurels and pride to the nation has been dedicated to 3.5 lakh newspaper vendors across the country, and the three senior journalist Sanjiv Sinha (The Indian Express), Anju Sharma (The Hindustan Times) and Ranjan Jha (Aaj Tak) who had died in a plane crash along with senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia four years ago. Many famous personalities have joined this movement which includes, noted film actor Farouque Shaikh, actress and Rajya Sabha MP Shabana Azmi and Bollywood actress Sonali Bendre. Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal a patron of the movement said: "Maestro's proposed performance at the India Gate will play a key role in restoring peace and communal harmony not only in India but across the world as Bismillah Khan sees only a divine unity between his music and his religion". "Music, sur, namaaz is the same thing for him. His namaaz is the seven shuddh and five komal surs. A devout Shia, he is also a staunch devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music", Sibal adds about the awardees of all the four national awards. Meanwhile, a strong buzz has already been created about the proposed performance as "more than 5000 listeners are expected to attend the function from all across the world," the couple claimed. The duo has also received e-mails from USA and UK about the function.
- April 22, 2006

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