USTAD YASIN KHAN

When he sat in an unassuming manner, I was not sure whether he would give a long speech or just mumble a few words of thanks. I have never heard him speaking on any occasion; I have only listened to his renderings of classical music. In fact, I have never known him to be garrulous. He is none other than Ustad Yasin Khan, son of legendary Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan.

The event occurred in the premises of Channel I, where Ustad Azad Rahman had organized a press conference on Bangla Kheyal. Ustad Azad Rahman has been working in this direction for a long time.

He gathered us together in the Channel i premises and while Shykh Seraj announced a life time achievement prize for Ustad Yasin Khan, the onus fell on him.

He was asked to say a few words. He complied with the adjective ‘few' and kept his timing well within the allotted time. He explained how during the partition, his father Ustad Gul Mohammad Khan had come to live in East Pakistan, after moving away from India . He had taught and performed in former East Pakistan and never went back even when he got brilliant offers from India. He told his son,(ie the speaker) that he should build up classical music in this country and never go anywhere else because the people were nice. To that, Ustad Yasin Khan abided. He never went to India, or anywhere else, he remained here, taught here in Bangladesh, sang here. When he spoke Ustad Yasin Khan did not look into the eyes of the audience. His pronunciation was also a bit muffled, opposite of crystal clear, more like the classical `bandesh' that people sing. Most of the words are unintelligible, people just have to surmise and enjoy the tune. There was a similar quality about his speech. I paid rapt attention. He had once told me earlier, during a musical shooting at Channel I, that he found the new generation people devoid of manners. He had whispered in my ears ‘In earlier times, people sent their sons to the performances of the court singers so that they could pick up some manners!' It may sound very snobbish, but his speech had the kind of attitude ‘I am not explaining the details, if you are intelligent enough, you will understand' In other words the famous Urdu saying, ‘akkalmand ke liye isharayi kafi'. (When translated, ‘For those who can discern, a hint is good enough ') was alive in his speech.
Ustad Yasin Khan said, ‘My father was asked by his disciples, how long should an artist live? Father had replied, ‘They should live 150 years'

The disciple were surprised ‘One fifty years Sir?'
`Yes,' replied Ustad Gul Mohammad. ’An artist should live 150 years, first fifty years to learn, next fifty years to practice and next fifty years to perform, that's how 150 years should be his longevity.'

I stood shocked at the underlying implication! I have not spent 50 years learning, nor spent 50 years practicing, I panicked! I am not qualified to perform. Collectively, we have to spend many more years in this pursuit. We need to practice further to become maestros. It is applicable in every field, be it cricket, music, writing, swimming, presentation, politics, practice of medicine or law, the implication 
continues…
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The writer is an academic, Nazrul 
exponent and writer.