The unknown side of Ustad Vilayat Khan

On his 93rd birth anniversary, remembering the sitarist who rose above all the hardship and criticism

August 28 is an important day for Hindustani instrumentalists. On this day, 92 years ago, one of the greatest sitarists of our times, Ustad Vilayat Khan, was born. Since he was born on Janmashtami, the Maharaja of Gauripur, where his father was a court musician for a brief period, named him Kanha Singh. Vilayat Khan saw difficult times in his childhood, but eventually reached great heights. Despite not accepting any government awards, he was universally acknowledged as ‘Aftab-e-Sitar’ (sun of the sitar), a title given to him by the former President, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Vilayat Khan valued this title immensely. “It was never given to anyone before me, nor will it be given to anyone after me,” he had remarked. In one of his compositions in raag Gaur Malhar, Vilayat Khan vents his anguish, ‘Kya bhasha un sang karenge, jo baat na jaane; humko woh kya jaane, jo koi na pehchaane’ (in what language can one converse with someone who is ignorant; how can someone who nobody recognises assess me). He ends with an emotional ‘aise log humme samajhaaye’ where he goes up to ‘teep’ sa with a beautiful meend, conveying his frustration musically.