Remembering Mahatma - Amjad Ali Khan

Amjad Ali Khan's album on Mahatma released By PTI Nov 05, 2007, 20:05

London (PTI): The latest album of sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan featuring some of the favourite hymns of Mahatma Gandhi was released here with the acclaimed musician predicting a bright future for Indian classical music.

Titled 'Remembering Mahatma Gandhi', the album has six songs including 'Raghupati Raghav Rajaram', Ekla Cholo Re' and 'Vaishnav Jan To' renditioned on sarod by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Ayaan and Amaan.

Releasing the album Monday night, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Kamalesh Sharma said Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has been one of the greatest "ambassadors of Indian culture."

Answering questions from a select gathering at the Nehru Centre, Khan said the future of Indian classical music is "very very bright."

"India has maximum number of musicians - over 100 sarod players and more than 500 tabla artists," he said.

But the Ustad lamented that barring the state broadcaster Doordarshan, television channels were contributing little to promote classical music and Indian culture.

"Only Doordarshan is showing classical music and documentaries of great musicians," he said.

62-year-old Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, who described Indian music as "the sun which has thousands of rays", is the sixth-generation sarod player in his family and his ancestors have developed and shaped the instrument over several hundred years.

Originally posted by: Anu.Rad

But the Ustad lamented that barring the state broadcaster Doordarshan, television channels were contributing little to promote classical music and Indian culture.

"Only Doordarshan is showing classical music and documentaries of great musicians," he said.

Thanx anu for the article...will hv to get the CD now.😆

I so agree with him...earlier zee tv used to hv a classical music program everyday at 6am. But now even that is not aired....the entertainment channels mainly stick to the serials more because of business reasons but the music channels can do something here.

Thanks Anu,

One more album to hunt for now...😆

WHen I read the title, by mistake I read it as mahatma Amjaad Ali Khan...I wa sthinking ki anu ko kya ho gaya...😆 simply love his sarod recitals...

Yes I thought we had a New Mahatma too. Will try to listen to these songs.

But a 100 sarod players and 500 tabla players is very little for a country like India with a billion people.

Anu thanks for sharing, Have to get that CD as soon it come our way honestly it will be very difficult to get have to call New York and ask my brother to get it for me, but if it is a movie CD I will get it tomorrow that will not be a problem at all. Any classical CD very difficult to find.

I searched for the CD online, but not available Its not available in musicindiaonline also.. 😕

Originally posted by: Barnali

Thanx anu for the article...will hv to get the CD now.😆

I so agree with him...earlier zee tv used to hv a classical music program everyday at 6am. But now even that is not aired....the entertainment channels mainly stick to the serials more because of business reasons but the music channels can do something here.

Yes Didi.. Music channels can do.. But they are very busy telecasting and promoting new songs.. they maybe allot an hour for the old classy numbers.. Otherwise there is no one who care about classical music.. But still, vividh bharati (Hindi) always takes care to play songs based on classical music in the early morning.. But the question is, how many listen to the radio?? 🤔