Though I call myself a ‘ classical music enthusiast ‘ I hardly knew anything about the great sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan and had just attended one of his concerts some 30 years ago !
So when I started reading a book about him by Namita Devidayal I wasn’t expecting much . But the whole narrative made me read the book at one go from start to finish ! I even carried it to the OT and finished a chapter while I was waiting for the anesthetist to come
It is not only a well researched biography of a very charismatic , aristocratic, extremely talented artist but it opens up a plethora of various historical events that form the intricate design of the Indian music that we know today .
Namita literally transports you through the gulleys of Kolkata and Old Delhi which nurtured some great musicians of India some 75 years ago . Her vivid description makes you actually visualize how those artists must have got trained and how they performed flawlessly on stage .Ustad Vilayat khan was truly a purist and his tremendous asthetic sense used to transcend into his music. The whole story of the legendary life of Vilayat Khan sahib leaves you spellbound and compels you to read page after page ..hats off to Namita’s art of story telling
It also talks about India’s ‘ unity in diversity ‘ phenomenon in a very subtle way depicting how the Muslim musicians were originally the Hindus and how they were allowed to perform at Hindu temples .
Towards the end it does make you a little sad with the thought that probably the rich heritage of Indian classical music has been going downhill due to lack of proper patronage and support that it used to get earlier .
The book is a ‘ must read ‘ for all ..even for the non music lovers for its sheer honesty and non judgmental writing.
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