New Delhi: On August 21, 2006, Bismillah Khan, a maestro of "shehnai" - a flute-like classical Indian musical instrument - was buried with state honours and a 36-gun salute in Varanasi.
Promises were made by politicians to construct a red stone tomb at the Fatman graveyard for the maestro. But almost a year later, the grave still lies in a state of utter neglect.
The legendary shehnai player was recipient of the highest Indian honours including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna.
The awards were many and felicitations numerous. In fact, the words of praise defied all expectations. But during the last few years of his life, Bismillah Khan had to plead with the government for financial assistance.
His son Nayyar Husain Khan "Bismillah" is pained. "Not just then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, but several other ministers and governors had time to time assured us assistance, but the results are for all to see."
First it was promise of allotment for a petrol station, then a gas agency and later assurance of jobs for some members of the family (who are not artistes) or some form of financial assistance to the family. Weeks turned into months, years and decades. But the family's plight remained the same.
This is not all. After the demise of the famous artiste, declarations were made for setting up a music academy in Bismillah Khan's memory. Promises remain unfulfilled in entirety.
Museum
Incensed over unfulfilled promises made to them, 65 eligible voters in the maestro's family boycotted the polls held in Uttar Pradesh recently.
They have, meanwhile, converted Bismillah Khan's room into a museum with his personal belongings and mementos, including the couple of shehnais that were the maestro's constant companions.
There were rumours that the most revered shehnai with which he enthralled millions of hearts, was buried along with him.
His son clarifies: "This is incorrect. I have been playing that instrument after him and will never part with it."
Four generations and a total of 85 members live in a joint family in a 2000 square feet, 3-floor house in the narrow alleys of Varanasi's Sarai Harha, which is accessible only by foot. The century-old building had been Bismillah Khan's house for the past nine decades.
"I used to participate in concerts with my father since childhood," says Nayyar Husain, who has donned the mantle of his father after the latter's death.
"An undemanding man, my father got so much love and affection from people all over the world. But ironically, was taken for a ride by both political leaders and sponsors back home. No politician has cared to ask about the welfare of the family after his death," Nayyar Husain said. "Several times sponsors would not pay us the promised amount."
Instrumental
People referred to Bismillah Khan as the soul of Benaras (Varanasi). From weddings to the precincts of the Parliament, he was instrumental in making shehnai a major solo instrument.
Husain recalls: "The happiest moment in my father's life, as he would often tell us, was when he was called to play the shehnai for free India from the ramparts of Delhi's Red Fort on August 15, 1947." As proof of his immense love for Varanasi, Bismillah Khan often used to refer to the incident when he went to the US to perform. He was asked to stay back and was promised that his entire family would be accommodated there. But the maestro said that he could not stay away from the Ganges river. And said he would stay back in the US only if they could bring the river from Varanasi to the US.
Totally immersed in his music, Khan remained humble and straightforward even as the note of his shehnai reverberated all over India and abroad. The maestro, after more than seven decades of services, should have been comfortable than he actually was, but never interested in riches, he would only pray that his music be blessed.
Will shehnai survive Bismillah Khan? I ask his son. "I hope we get more programmes and are able to sustain ourselves. The onus is now on us," Husain remarked.
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