Anti-socials trying to capture Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan's ancestral land in Bihar
Bismillah Khan, who died a decade ago, was born at Patwa locality of Dumaron block in Buxur district, some 130 west of Patna.
Subhan Khan, who takes care of late shehnai maestro’s ancestral house at Dumraon, has filed a petition with the police, charging some anti-socials with trying to illegally capture his property, media reports said.
“A man has been constantly trying to forcibly capture his (late Bismillah Khan’s) ancestral land. On Tuesday, the accused even broke open the main gate of the house,” the caretaker wrote in his complaint petition to the police.
According to him, the accused even threatened him with dire consequences for opposing his move.
He alleged an “Aanganwadi” centre was being forcibly run on legendary artist’s ancestral land despite his protest.
“We are investigating the matter. Legal action will be taken against those trying to encroach upon the land belonging to late Bismillah Khan,” a local sub-divisional police official Ptramod Kumar told the media on Wednesday.
Right now, shehnai maestro’s ancestral house in Dumraon is crumbling as no efforts were made by the state government to protect this.
Politicians have repeatedly made promises to develop his birthplace.
But, over a decade after his death, local residents are disappointed with state and the central government's failure to take concrete steps.
According to locals, Bismillah Khan's ancestors were court musicians and used to play in Naqqar khana in the princely state of Dumraon.
His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon.
When he was barely six or seven, Bismillah moved to his maternal grandfather's home in Varanasi.
His uncle, Ali Baksh 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple, was his guru.
Two Bihar chief ministers and a host of politicians have promised to develop Bismillah Khan's birthplace in the Dumraon assembly constituency in Buxur district but beyond tokenism, there has been nothing concrete on the ground, local residents rue.
(thebiharpost.com/IBNS)
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