Ram Guha on Bismillah Khan
Ram Guha impact?
Twenty-five years after I first heard Bismillah, I was able to repay — in small measure — a debt that had by then accumulated beyond all repayment. A friend who was a high official asked me to write a piece for the press urging that M.S. Subbulakshmi and Lata Mangeshkar be awarded the Bharat Ratna. I accepted the commission, since I likewise believed that it was past time that India’s highest honour was rescued from the politicians, and returned to the artists and scholars for whom it was originally intended. However, when I wrote the article I strayed somewhat from my friend’s script, and added the names of Ravi Shankar and Bismillah Khan to the ones he had given me. All four, I am happy to say, were awarded the Bharat Ratna in due course.The rest here.
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(via Mogadalai.)
Who is that guy who is upset with Ravi Shankar because he (RS) got the award and he did’nt? Pandit Jasraj or some such unknown. Ram Guha should have included his name in the list and solved the problem. Also, I am knowing one very talented young bowler in Shivaji Park. If you know Mr. Guha can you please ask him to write recommending him for just one little Pudum Sree?
Comment by glass half full — August 31, 2006 @ 3:14 am