There still is a glimmer of hope!

Islamabad
Can’t recall when was the last time I had the opportunity to sit in an audience to listen and enjoy some real classical music renditions. So, when I was so kindly invited by the ‘Mausikar Welfare Trust’ to join them at a programme in which two distinguished sons and one highly promising grandson of late Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan were to perform with the sitar maestro, Ustad Rais Khan, along with his son, it was irresistible.
And it was also good to see the audience turning up in much greater numbers as compared with what I had witnessed during the last programmes arranged by ‘Mausikaar’.
However, at the end of the two-and-a-half hour performance I felt that it would have been a lot better had the organisers, divided this show into two, one dedicated to the late Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan of ‘Gwalior Gharana’ and the other to honor the sitar maestro, Ustad Rais Khan.
I can’t vouch for the others present in the spacious Sir Syed Memorial Society hall, the venue of the programme, but to me the one marvellous vocal performance sandwiched between the two excellent instrumental presentations left me somewhat distracted in the end.
The evening started with ‘Rabab’ recital by Ustad Mazhgar Shagan who played ‘Raag Sajan’, a rare raga that he claimed to belong to his family. And that indeed was a lovely live performance. One may have listened to better recordings but keeping in mind that it was a live performance, interactive with audience, the recital was a lovely one. Also, how frequently one finds a chance to listen to a classical ‘Rabab recital’!
The performance was followed by a vocal performance by Ustad Qadir Shagan, the elder son of late Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan, along with his son, Muslim Shagan, and that was what everybody around seemed to be waiting anxiously for.
Again, as a sign of respect to their late father, Qadir Shagan and Muslim Shagan selected one of the favorite classical ‘Raag Kafi Kanra’, an unusually high pitched rendition. And the duo overwhelmed the audience. While the father, Ustad Qadir Shagan was focused to prove himself as the rightful heir of the tradition left behind by his legendary father, Muslim Shagan, the grandson of Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shagan was not shy of pressing the point that he was not much behind in picking up and building upon what he has inherited.
His performance was almost flawless and the maturity that he showed in singing the difficult ‘Kafi Kangra’ really impressed those with an ear for the finer points of classical music present in the audience. Muslim Shagan is practically a bright ray of hope for classical music in the country and has already established himself as an asset that needs to be cared about and nurtured.
I only wish that he will not take to other forms of singing, which may offer better fame and benefits but in which one burns out too quickly.
Ustad Qadir Shagan backed his son with a very steady and rich voice reflecting years of hard work under the tutelage of his father. He could easily be declared the right replacement for his legendary father. The spontaneous appreciation from the audience and traditional gestures of respect by the performers were heartwarming.
The two excellent performances by the heirs of ‘Gwalior Gharana’ certainly made the task of sitar maestro, Ustad Rais Khan and his son Farhan Rais, quite a challenging one. Because, first he was required to break the spell cast by ‘Rabag recital’ by Mazhar Shagan and the rendition of ‘Raag Kafi Kanra’ by Ustad Qadir Shagan and Muslim Shagan.
And Ustad Rais Khan took up the challenge. The mellow tunes flowing out of ‘sitar’ as Ustad Rais’s fingers magically maneuvered the strings, were soon swirling around in the vast auditorium. The serene sitar music accompanied with subtle remarks from Ustad Rais many a time sent the audience burst out with appreciation or laughter.
And soon, people were completely enveloped by the magical sitar music flowing out of the instruments masterly played by the father and the son! The tunes sprouted, rippled around, built up like waves, came crashing down on a rocky beach and then retreating, leaving behind a soothing, foamy feeling relaxed the nerves. It was a masterly performance one would have expected of Ustad Rais and his son, young Farhan Rais was not much behind father.
And when Ustad Rais strum the strings of sitar for the last time in the evening, gesturing his appreciation towards Ustad Ajmal Khan who accompanied him on table, the audience was on its feet for a good round of applause.
And it would be highly unfair not to mention Ustad Ajmal Khan, the best table player of the country. The humble table master gave an almost non-stop two-and-a-half hour long performance as he accompanied with Mazhar Shagan, Ustad Qadir Shagan and Muslim Shagan and in the end with Ustad Rais Khan and Farhan Rais.
He was tired but never showed it till the last moment, or even after. The lingering smile, for which he is known among the circle of his friends, never left his face throughout these two-and-a-half hour performance and even after. As the ceremony for awarding bouquets started, Ustad Ajmal quietly retreated in the background, till the time he was called out to join the group. I wish he was paid a bit more respect and honor.
The audience included the living legend of classical music, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, and the Kathak maestro, Indo Mitha.
Dr Seema Khan, the President of ‘Mausikaar’ along with her team comprising of Mrs Zafar Iqbal, Mrs Mahreen Khan, Ms Shazia Ismat, Mrs Salahuddin and others remained on their feet almost through the function, ensuring a smooth evening and they succeeded very well.