President of India
New Delhi, Mar 16 (IANS) President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Tuesday condoled the death of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan.
In a letter to the musician's son, Shujaat Khan, Abdul Kalam said he "belonged to a family of great sitarists whose lineage went back several generations". Vilayat Khan died in Mumbai Saturday night.
"His contributions to the art of music - an art form that spreads happiness and makes hearts blossom, will be remembered forever. His musical rhyme will be missed in India and abroad," the condolence letter said.
Prime Minister of India
BBC 15 March 2004
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said in a statement: "Vilayat Khan was a child prodigy to whom goes the credit of taking the sitar beyond the shores of the country."
Ustad Raees Khan
Talking to Daily Times from Karachi, Ustad Raees Khan said there had never been a sitar player like Vilayat Khan and there probably never would be another. He said Ustad Shujjaat Hussian Khan, the late maestro’s son, should become the diligent successor. He said Mr Khan was a very stylish person and had a large collection of guns, pipes, sunglasses and watches. He was a very good billiard player and hunter.
Pandit Ravi Shankar
16 March 2004
Ustad Vilayat Khan's death is a great loss for Indian classical music. He not only inherited music from his forefathers but, with his genius, brought it to a much higher standard. He also developed his own distinctive style of sitar playing. Fortunately, he has left behind his sons, a few near relatives and wonderful students who will be able to carry on his legacy.
ave always expressed my great admiration for this charming musician. We spent many wonderful moments together as young musicians and these
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan16 March 2004
The death of Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan saheb is a personal loss; our families have known each other for over two generations. His father Ustad Inayat Ali Khan saheb and my father Ustad Hafeez Ali Khan saheb and Ustad Fayaz Khan saheb, a great singer of his time, used to perform together. There was hardly any function where they were not seen together.
The relationship between our families continued with Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan saheb. Khan saheb was a legendary sitar player. For us music lovers, he was a Bharat Ratna because of his immense contribution to the world of Indian classical music (Ustad Vilayat Ali Khan turned down national awards in 1964 and 1968, saying that members of the award committees were not competent to judge his music). He was an icon as far as Indian classical music was concerned and became a gharana in himself. Yet, out of sheer modesty, he used to call himself a disciple of the Imdaad gharana.
The sitar and Vilayat Khan had become synonymous. He was a musician by birth because he was born in a family that had worshipped Indian classical music for seven generations. His only rival was Pandit Ravi Shankar. Contemporary students of the sitar either belong to the Ravi Shankar or the Vilayat Khan school.
Panditji became a worldwide figure because he practised his music in the West. As a result of his association with the Beatles at one stage, he became a household name in Europe and America.
Khan saheb had two wives. Shujaat, his son though his first wife, Monisha, is a wonderful exponent of the sitar. Khan saheb also had two daughters with Monisha. Yaman is married into a royal family and Zila is a classical singer in her own right.
He spent the last four decades of his life with his second wife, Zubeda. They have a son, Hidayat, who also plays the sitar.
Vilayat Khan saheb was a vibrant person with a great sense of humour. I recall the moments when he would visit my house in Delhi and we would sit together for hours discussing music and other things. He was like my elder brother. In his death, I have incurred a great personal loss; I have lost a brother and a friend. His achievements will continue to inspire people like me.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
15 March 2004
KOLKATA: The West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the death of the noted sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan left a void in the music world which would be difficult to fill. "I am shocked at the death of the renowned sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan. His death caused a void in the music world which will be difficult to fill", Bhattacherjee said in a condolence message. " The contribution of the internationally famed sitarist to the classical music was invaluable. He had also inseparable bond with the city of Kolkata", the Chief Minister said.