London, May 28: A packed audience here lustily applauded Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash as they held a mesmerising Sarod concert on the occasion of the launch of their book 'Abba - God's Greatest Gift To Us,' an intimate pictorial biography of their father Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Among the audience at the Nehru Centre here last night were the Sarod maestro himself along with his wife Subbulakshmi, former prime minister V P Singh, Rajmata of Jaipur Gayatri Devi, well-known writer Vikram Seth, noted British poetess Catherine Ryan, High Commissioner for India to the UK Ronen Sen, and music wizard Tavleen Singh. Ayaan regaled the gathering with the rendition of Rag Sri followed by Rag Tilak by his brother Amaan and subsequently both played together holding the audience spell-bound.
In the book, Amaan and Ayaan pay tributes to their father with deference, humility and great love. In the current world, it is refreshing to come across a family which upholds traditional values, amalgamated though they may be with modern thinking and an urbane sophistication.


Making no bones about the constant balance they strike to achieve in separating the father from the guru, the brothers tell of their father's struggles, his emotional conflicts, the betrayal he faced and his secular approach to life.
The biography differs from others' about him as his life has been put under a microscope by his sons. Here lies a tale charged with emotion, objective judgment, curiosity and above all, an unflinching faith in a father and guru.

Bureau Report