Tribute paid to ‘tabla’ maestro Ajmal Khan

Islamabad:A reference was arranged by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and Bakhshi Family to pay tribute to legendry ‘tabla’ maestro and Pride of Performance recipient the late Ustad Ajmal Khan here.

The event started with the recitation of poetry by Aafi Bakhshi. PNCA Director General Dr. Fouzia Saeed paying glowing tribute to the ‘tabla’ icon said Ustad Ajmal was a great artist of his genre, a very nice person with great humbleness in his nature and an always smiling face.

"The whole nation is indebted to Ustad sahib. As an Urdu verse says 'Milnay ky nahi nayab hein hum', artists never die but they remain in people through their work," she said. Ustad Ajmal Khan, a disciple of Bakhshi family, who died of cardiac arrest recently, has rendered valuable services in the field of music.

He spent most of his life in PNCA and Lok Virsa by accompanying great classical and semi classical artists/singers of the Country on ‘tabla’. Ustad Ajmal has represented Pakistan in more than 60 countries of the world. The visiting artists, groups, bands have always been appreciative of his skill and command on notes.

A large number of artist and musician from abroad have expressed their grief over Ajmal’s death and paid tribute to his outstanding skills and command on the instruments.

Writers, musicians, producers and admirers including Khawaja Najamul Hassan, Indo Mitha, Silahuddin Chaudhary and Professor Shahbaz Ali paid tribute to Ajmal Khan in own words.

One common sentence among all was about ‘tabla’ maestro's softness in life and profession. They said Ustad Ajmal always fought for his colleagues. On the occasion, dastar bandi of the ‘tabla’ maestro's sons, including Sherry Bukhshi and Yawar Bakhshi, also took place.

Both of them are also musicians and are promoting both traditional and modern music at the same time. Renowned artists Aafi Bukhshi, Yawar Bakhshi, Sherry Bukhshi, Babar Niazi, Jahangir Naizi, Nadeem Salamat and Tathir Salamat presented tribute to Ajmal Khan by presenting qawali and ghazal.

A large number of artists and art lovers attended the evening to acknowledge the contribution of late Ajmal Khan to the field of music.