There're always the big maestros like you, but who after you?
This question has always been there. When we had Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan saheb or Ustad Amir Khan saheb, people used to ask who after them? We got Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Pt Jasraj ji. Now people ask who after them, I'd say Rajan Sajan Mishra and Rashid Khan; so it's happening. And same goes with instrumental musicians. The difference is that Indian classical music is not a wholesale product. We cannot have ten Bhimsen Joshis or ten Pt Jasrajs. One is enough to carry on the tradition. There cannot be a mass produce of Indian classical musician of highest calibre or for that matter in any field. You can only have one Tendulkar. To get your footing in classical genre one has to be passionate about the craft, be rigorous in training and not be xerox copy of his guru. He should have the ability to create his own niche.
You're credited with bringing the santoor to the classical genre. How did you manage that?
Santoor is traditionally an instrument used by Sufi musicians of Kashmir. These musicians would never go to perform in Jammu in those days and hence the people didn't know what santoor was or looked like, forget about the rest of India. I had never seen it. It was never used in classical music. It was my father who noticed it when, as in-charge of the music section in Jammu, he was transferred to Srinagar radio. He thought why not bring this instrument to classical music like Bismillah Khan saheb had brought shehnai to the genre. He decided that I should be the first musician to play santoor in classical music and that's how I became associated with it.
What changes you made to the instrument to make it suitable for classical music?
Oh, many changes. Except for its shape and name, I've changed it a lot. Right from the tuning system to the number of strings to the posture - I've changed everything. I've reduced the number of strings from earlier 100 and introduced the posture of playing it on the lap as against earlier playing it on a triangular box so as to give a distinct character of its own and not look like an imitation of the sitar, sarod or the veena. It took 10-12 years to work on the instrument. Also, it's a difficult instrument to teach en-mass because of the tuning of the number of strings in it. It's actually a handicap and a deterrent in making it popular. Santoor cannot be used as a tuition instrument.
Coming from Jammu and Kashmir how do you see the music of the region?
Our state is like mini India. If I talk about the undivided state of J & K before partition, there are so many languages. In Jammu we speak Dogri, Poonch has Poonchi, Mirpur (POK), Bhaderwah in Jammu is similar to Dogri and Kishtwar is some combination of Kashmiri. Then you go to Ladakh, Gilgit and Skardu. This state is not only rich in language, music and folk music but its also rich in dance, cuisine and poetry. I've not seen anything like J& K anywhere.
How do you feel about the region being in constant turmoil?
It's unfortunate. A war or conflict cannot create peace. Only love and acceptance is the way forward and it exists at the people to people level. Once I met an Asian family in the tube in London. The man said saheb kal apne jab bajaya Queen Elizabeth hall mein toh kya bajaya. Jab apne log en logon ke mulk mein bajate hai to bada fakr hota hai. (You played awesome yesterday in the Queen Elizabeth hall. When our people play in this country then I feel great pride). When I asked him are you from Delhi, he said no I'm from Lahore. I was surprised at the kind of affection and language he used to express himself. Why can't we bring that back and stop this madness.
What would you say to the plight of Kashmiri pandits living in exile, unable to go back home?
I feel it's as if you are a refugee in your own country. Unfortunately, no human rights agencies talk about it. This is very strange. Don't the people, who have been displaced from their homes, have any human rights? Nobody takes up their cause on what kind of life they are living.
What do you think of the many musical realty shows on TV today?
They're a great platform for talent search but beyond a point it's for the parents to decide whether they want to make their children earn some quick bucks or hone their skills into mastering them as an expert in their talent.
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