Phool hi Phool Khil Uthe.....

Millions of fans of Mehdi Hassan will be grateful to the Govt. of Pakistan for finally acknowledging the living legend.

For those who do not know, Govt. of Pakistan has fixed an honorarium of Rs. 50,000/-. per month for the life time to Mehdi Hassan the greatest ghazal singer living today. This recognition comes at the time when he is unable to sing due to his ill health.

I hope that this kind gesture inspires many other Governments in the World, particularly the Indian Govt. which is so engrossed in its self sustainment that it invariably forgets to recognize, pro actively, the greatest talents and achievers which makes India a unique culture. (Certainly I don't mean that this negative trait should form the part of the culture). Only after considerable pressure from the fans and admirers someone will wake up in New Delhi and come up with the idea of how to use this missed opportunity by planning a damage control exercise to their political advantage.

Late Ustad Bismillah Khan was one of the classic example of such response. The list can be very large if someone can compile it. Big and small artists in Bollywood alone will fill up the list by and large, leave alone the other painters, musicians, craftsmen and many talented citizens in urban and rural India.

It would be nice to see that any such recognition of the main artist also includes his/her key team members. Most of them have remained through out their Life with their masters and are also unable perform due to disability or old age. Whatever the case may be...

I remember, during one of the live performances in Mumbai, Ustad Amir khan, suddenly stopped singing and commented " Gaana wohi jo Rooh soone aur Rooh soonaye (a (good) song is the one which is sung by the soul and heard by the soul)" and then he resumed...

Thank you Govt. of Pakistan for standing by Mehdi Hassan and not only making him feel proud of his achievement but also to his admirers as well.