Madhya Pradesh Cultural Department Ignoring Our Family, Alleges Amjad Ali Khan

Gwalior: Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has alleged that the Madhya Pradesh cultural department has been ignoring his family and has not paid any tribute to his father, the late Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan, whose 42nd death anniversary is being observed today.

"Today is the 42nd death anniversary of my pita Guru Ustad Haafiz Ali Khan Saheb. In these 42 years, Madhya Pradesh's cultural department has not offered any tribute or homage to the legendary sarod guru of Gwalior. Our family is ignored and boycotted by Madhya Pradesh's cultural department," Mr Khan, 69, told news agency Press Trust of India.

He rued that though he and his sons have been invited to play at prestigious events, including at the recent Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at Oslo, we have "never been invited by the state cultural department to perform even in my hometown Gwalior for the Tansen Music Festival."

"It is really sad that our whole family has been boycotted. Gwalior and Sarod Ghar are my birth place. This is a very sad thing in the land of Tansen. He is our inspiration and Guru Gharana known as Senia Gharana," Khan said.

Gwalior's Sarod Ghar is a unique institution devoted to promoting Indian classical music, heritage and culture under the aegis of the Haafiz Ali Khan Memorial Trust.