Noted violinist L Subramanian says it's tragic how Bismillah Khan had to suffer in his last days.
It was a starry night in Geneva when violin virtuoso Dr L Subramaniam teamed up with shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan to perform a jugalbandi. It was the start of a long association, but even 15 years later he can't forget the ethereal mystique of that encounter.
"The idea was for both of us to perform solo for 45 minutes each and then do one piece of jugalbandi," recalls Subramaniam, who incidentally, is married to well-known playback singer Kavita Krishnamurthy. "But after the final act got a 20-minute standing ovation from the crowd, he whispered to me 'Let's do another'. And what a jugalbandi it turned out to be! It was an experience I'll never forget."
In town in connection with the release of Sangeet Sangam, a commemorative album of the India festival in Geneva - which has the live recording of that jugalbandi - Subramaniam still seems to be coming to term with the Ustad's unfortunate demise. "To think a legend like that died of malnutrition," he exclaims.
"Hundreds of senior artistes are facing financial problems. The Padma awards are a great honour, but the government should do a little more for the stalwarts who get them. If they can't offer a stipend, at least provide free medical treatment for their remaining days," he adds.
Fondly recalling his interactions with the Ustad, Subramanian says his simplicity was his most endearing quality. "Bismillah-ji was never one to bother about money. Whatever money he got he gave to his children. And everyone knows that he was supporting a huge family. He was completely devoid of any airs and his only interest was in the shehnai."
The gifted violinist also pointed out that a part of the problem is the arbitrary royalty system in the country. "Many musicians from the earlier generation are not formally educated because they learnt music full-time, so how can they understand the fine print of contracts? In the West, a musician of Ustad Bismillah Khan's stature and popularity would have been a billionaire just from the royalty he deserved."
