ICSrivastava

Way back in January 1967 , after we had completed  as IAS Trainee  officers, our Bharat Darshan Yatra of a few states including a most famous  Vrindaban Gardens near Mysore four of us namely  CM Vasudev ,Inderjit  Khanna, OP Behari ( now in heavenly abode) and myself were attached  to District  Administration at Surat for nearly  two weeks.  The legendary strict NAAcademy Mussoorie  Director Shri MG Pimputkar our trainer in Chief had mandated Canadian Airforce PT which we continued at Surat Circuit House at 6.30 AM everyday  Surat Sojourn-as I  prefer this  term was made memorable  by two events- a West Zone Ranji trophy  cricket match and a live concert by star singer Mohammed  Rafi. As guest trainee Magistrates we had the privilege  of VIP  tickets for watching  live- in- action famous batsmen Jaisimha and Umrimgar among  others.Needless to add, the match was a great treat to us foursom...

Rajmal Surana Sangit Samaroh is held every year on 4th- 5th January  and is scheduled at Maharana Pratap Hall ' Vidyaashram Jaipur this year also under the auspices of Shruti Mandal. In 2004 this Samaroh was scheduled at Rajya Mandir Cinema Hall at 7PM. As I was entering the hall from  the front door I came face to face with Bharat  Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. Being native of a village near  Varanasi I could not resist the temptation of greeting him.As he smiled I asked him if he had played Shahnai at the birthday  celebration Varanasi Advocate  Vishnu Behariji'son .He laughed and loudly said "Haan Lalla Babu  bola na.Unke betwa Kunwarji ke hone  par badhai  mein khoob  baje rahe hum" I told him that he was my eldest brotherProfessorVCSrivastava's Sale Saheb. I ushered him to his seat in the front row and parted company.  Ustad Bismillah Khan , an angel soul was humility  personified and left an indelible impression...