Images

Legendary artist Mehdi Hassan’s tomb shows signs of neglect

Legendary artist Mehdi Hassan’s tomb shows signs of neglect

It's been seven years since the singer was laid to rest in the city’s Mohammad Shah graveyard near Anda Morand.
16 Jun, 2019

It was on June 13, 2012 that Mehdi Hassan Khan, arguably the greatest ghazal singer ever and one of the finest playback vocalists of the subcontinent, died.

He was laid to rest in the city’s Mohammad Shah graveyard near Anda Mor. It’s been seven years since and reports have been pouring in about the sorry state in which his gravesite now stands. It is sad and dispiriting for music lovers all around the world.

Khan Sahib (as he was fondly known in showbiz circles) had become a bit of an icon in the earlier phase of his career. His classically trained voice and his remarkable understanding of not just the meaning but usage of words/lyrics had made him a (musical) force to reckon with in his thirties.

For sure, if literary giants Faiz Ahmed Faiz and the singer par excellence Lata Mangeshkar were admirers of his work, then there must be something special about him. What was it? Well, it was the sumptuous combination of Khan Sahib’s sureeli voice and the uncanny ability to do justice to words that had endeared him to music lovers and men of letters in equal measure.

Mangeshkar’s famous compliment on his singing ability, that his was a divine voice, is a testimony to the rigorous training in music that he received from first his father Ustad Azeem Khan and uncle Ustad Ismail Khan, and then from his older brother Pandit Ghulam Qadir and the consuming passion that he had for his art.

And yet, here he is, lying in his grave, like an individual who leaves behind no one, nothing.

Isn’t Mehdi Hassan Khan our cultural hero? Isn’t it the government’s duty, the state’s obligation, to make sure that his final resting place remains in a condition that can prove to the rest of the world that we care about our artists, about our sensitive souls? That doesn’t seem to be the case.

This writer remembers the day when Khan Sahib was lowered into his grave. A couple of hours prior to it, there were hundreds of people outside his Ancholi residence and dozens of media men interviewing his sons, capturing the emotions of his loved ones and trying to describe the general atmosphere to their readers/viewers.

Seven years later, as is often the case with everyone and not just eminent individuals, no one even recalls his accomplishments. But it is our responsibility, the state’s job, to keep reminding us of those who have enriched our lives with their extraordinary talent and trailed a blaze for those who wish to make their presence felt by following in the achievers’ footsteps.

One of the many ghazals that Khan Sahib immortalised with his voice was Mir’s Dekh to dil keh jaan se uth’ta hai. One of its verses is:

Gor kis dil jaley ki hai yeh falak

Shola ik subh yaan se uth’ta hai

(Is the sky a grave of a heartbroken person?

Every morning, a spark rises from it).

Originally published in Dawn, June 16th, 2019

Comments

Khan Jun 16, 2019 10:17am
we all have to deapart one day from this world.here poor alive people are in need of support and you are crying for deads graves.by the way if governament support / maintain all such graves which are be thousands in Pakistan, its economy will further be effected.i think we should worry for living being not mortals.
Recommend (0)
Hope786 Jun 16, 2019 10:56am
" sub ka dil ma rehta hoo per apna daman khali hai". Nations which doesn't respects their legends never flourish. It's the duty of the state to help artists in life and protect their resting places taken care of after their demise, but it never happens. I hope those who loved him will take an action to fix up his resting place.
Recommend (0)
Ali Jun 16, 2019 11:10am
What a humble and down to earth this legend was. May his soul rest in peace.
Recommend (0)
Prakash V Jun 16, 2019 11:45am
Without doubt, Mehdi Hasan was "Khan Sahib" of Ghazals. Not only in his country or sub Cotinent, each and every Ghazal lover, wherever he or she is, will remember him as one of the legends of this art of music.
Recommend (0)
Farooq Jun 16, 2019 12:05pm
Sad truth is that we as a nation don't care about the live and dead alike.
Recommend (0)
Ashutosh Mishra Jun 16, 2019 12:48pm
Doston, woh aapkei hi nahin, thoda saa hamarei bhi thhei. Unki shaan mei kabhi bhi kami naa rehnei paayei, aisa khayal rakhiyega unka. Warna humein toh zarur taqleef pahunchegi!!!
Recommend (0)
Zahid Jun 16, 2019 02:02pm
@Khan so true
Recommend (0)
Anon Jun 16, 2019 03:57pm
Respects for Mehdi Hasan.
Recommend (0)
Jamil Soomro, New York City Jun 16, 2019 03:59pm
@Khan I fully agree with your comment.It is good to visit the past but not to live there permanently. Our present will affect our future not the past.It is time to be realistic and not too emotional in this world and move on.
Recommend (0)
Pro Bono Public Jun 16, 2019 07:34pm
Feel sorry to see the grave of the legend in such a bad condition. District Management should care of it.
Recommend (0)
Arun Kumar Jun 16, 2019 08:27pm
Great singer.Great Man
Recommend (0)
NISAR DAYO Jun 16, 2019 10:26pm
The state of Pakistan is already on life support. What do you expect from it.
Recommend (0)
SyedAbid Raza Jun 17, 2019 04:42am
@NISAR DAYO agree
Recommend (0)
Alam Jun 17, 2019 05:49am
@NISAR DAYO The state of your mind is also on life support ! What do we expect from it ?
Recommend (0)
Musharaf Jun 17, 2019 03:13pm
@Khan u r right but we shouldn't forget our hero's ...we must respect mehdi kha sb no matter he is not with us now...miss him so much
Recommend (0)
TKhan Jun 17, 2019 06:44pm
Shouldn't it be the responsibility of his children who are still cashing in on Mr. Mehdi Hassan's legacy?
Recommend (0)
Anon Jun 17, 2019 08:15pm
@Alam Agree 100%.
Recommend (0)