Ustad Amjad Ali khan was unhappy that Security personnel allowed sniffer dogs to check musical instruments kept on stage.
Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s visits to Ahmedabad seem to put his musical instruments in trouble. Last year, his sarod was damaged when he was returning from Ahmedabad. This year, he had a disquieting experience on Sunday because of the strict security in place at the convention centre where he and his two sons were to perform with some French musicians.
Sniffer dogs brought by security personnel, wearing shoes, to the convention centre on University grounds climbed the stage and sniffed the musical instruments arranged there ahead of the concert.
The Ustad was understandably shaken. “Security authorities should respect the sentiment of artists. Dogs should not be allowed to climb the stage and sniff instruments. This is humiliating for performers,” he said.
Security screening of boxes carrying instruments of musicians is routine at most concerts, particularly in metros. However, the boxes are usually checked before they are brought on stage inside the hall. Sadly, at this concert the dogs were taken to the stage to sniff the instruments kept on stage. It may be mentioned here that musical instruments are revered as ‘holy’ by Hindustani classical musicians.
The maestro said that they — he and his sons, Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan — generally carry their musical instruments to the stage when they perform.
“But at this concert, we had taken out the instruments and placed them on the stage before the concert because that is what the French musicians had done. We were to perform with them,” he said.
However, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan was happy at the response of the Ahmedabad audience whom he described as “receptive and discerning.” He said performing Pierre Thilloy’s newly-composed ‘Ananta Opus-195’ with the French musicians was an unforgettable experience.
Security authorities should respect the sentiment of artists. Dogs should not be allowed to climb the stage and sniff instruments. This is humiliating for performers
—Amjad Ali Khan,Sarod maestro
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}