President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed shock and grief at the demise of shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan describing him as a symbol of India's composite culture.
"Ustad Bismillah Khan's passing away indeed marks the end of an era in shehnai music. He was a rare jewel and a musician who comes only once in a life time," President A P J Abdul Kalam said in a condolence message.
Hailing Khan as a 'gifted artistic genius,' Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he brought a rare vibrancy and resplendence to Indian classical music and enthralled his audiences across the globe.
Shekhawat said in the death of the music maestro the country had lost an acclaimed musician, a powerful exponent of our composite cultural values and a fine human being.
In his condolence message, the Prime Minister said, "A true symbol of our composite culture, Khan sahib, through his mellifluous rendering of the shehnai showed us all that while God may manifest himself in many forms, piety finds its true expression through music."
Lauding the departed maestro as a 'great son of India,' Dr Singh said Khan almost single-handedly elevated this simple instrument of popular folk music into a famous vehicle of Hindustani classical music.
Onkar Singh in New Delhi adds:
Former prime minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that the void created by the death of great musician will be difficult to be filled.
In an emotional tribute, Vajpayee described the Ustad as a person who was sensitive and could understand the emotional bondings. In a tribute written in chaste Hindi, Vajpayee referred to the enormous contribution made by Khan to the world of music.
"His name was counted amongst the foremost musicians," he said.
BJP leader L K Advani expressed deepest condolences to Khan's family. Recalling Khan as a legend in the Indian classical instrumental music, he said that the world will always remember him for his dedication towards preserving the great Indian classical music.
'Ustad's death leaves a void which will be very difficult to be filled. It is important that young musicians reflect his dedication in their life and draw inspiration from him in holding the values of Indian classical music,' Advani said in a statement.
