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