By Kashif-ul-huda, TwoCircles.net
Have you ever heard of someone refusing Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan? These are the highest civilian awards in India after Bharat Ratna.
Vilayat Khan, Sitar genius was one such person. He refused Padma Shri in 1964 and Padma Bhushan in 1968 because he thought the selection committee was “musically incompetent” to judge him.
In 2000, he was awarded Padma Vibhushan and he refused again saying that he would even refuse Bharat Ratna since he deserved it before any other sitar player in the country, as he was the most talented.
There is no doubt that he was talented, he made his first recording at the age of 8 and his last concert months before his death at the age of 75. A musical career spanning 67 years and maintaining a top position during all these years is no mean achievement.
He composed music for Satyajit Ray’s film “Jalsaghar” (1958) and Merchant- Ivory’s “The Guru” (1969).
Born into a family of musicians called ‘Etawah Gharana’, his grandfather Imdad Khan and father Enayat Khan, were also leading sitar players of their times. Vilayat’s father died when Vilayat was only nine and therefore he learned most of his music from uncles and other relatives.
He was interested in becoming a singer, but his mother Bashiran Begum insisted that he shoulder the responsibility of the family, continue with their musical tradition and take up sitar. For some one who attached so much attention to family traditions and value, it is understandable as to why he refused theses awards.
These days, when everyone is after one or the other awards and use these awards to further their career, I can understand why Vilayat Khan refused to accept these awards. He considered these as insults since they were either not given by competent people or awarded first to people who were less deserving than him. If he was the number one sitar player in the country (or in the world), it was only fair that he should got these awards before any other Sitar player.
“This is an insult to me. If there is any award for sitar in India, I must get it first,” he said alleging that the Sangeet Natak Academy had been influenced by lobby, politics and favouritism while deciding the awardees.
“There has always been a story of wrong time, wrong person and wrong award in this country,” a visibly enraged Khan said at a crowded press meet here.
Pointing out that sitar and its `Parampara’ had seen the longest ever tradition in his family and his ancestors had chiselled the `Gayaki Ang’, crucial to the playing of the instrument, Khan said no other `gharana’ was older than his in this arena.
“Four generations, both from my paternal and maternal sides, have made sitar their religion and today the entire nation is copying our work,” he said.
— The Hindu, 8 Feb 2000.
In a climate where artists lobbied for awards and were always eager to win recognition, he for one valued his honour more than any award and refused to accept them.. A generation later, people will never understand how someone could refuse an award. For men of principles and tradition their honour is all that matters to them, more than any award or recognition.
Ustad Vilayat Khan, earned love and respect from fellow musicians and his fans and that was more important to him than any award.
He did accept special decorations of “Bharat Sitar Samrat” by the Artistes Association of India and “Aftab-e-Sitar” (Sun of the Sitar) from the President of India.
Born on August 8th, 1928 in Mymensign in undivided Bengal, Ustad Vilayat Khan passed away on March 13th, 2004 in Mumbai.