Burden of Greatness

Coincidence? No, the two aren’t linked, clarifies Ghosh. The idea was conceived a year ago. ‘‘But it couldn’t be put into practise as Parliament was under threat.’’

Khan will don a black topi while performing after a gap of 55 years. ‘‘He wears it when he’s very happy. He told me main dil se bajaoonga,’’ says Mumbai-based Ghosh.

Ghosh isn’t a long-time disciple of Khan. She met him in 2001 during one of her concerts. After listening to her, Khan went to her and said that her voice had won his heart. They even discussed a jugalbandi but she didn’t think he was serious. But a few months later, when he met her again, he reminded Ghosh about it.

Steadily, appreciation and respect for each other’s talent helped seal a bond between the two. Ask her about the controversy and the defensive daughter surfaces. ‘‘He lives like a saint,’’ she says.

But this Bharat Ratna is one of the highest paid artistes, charging lakhs for a concert. Where does it all go?

‘‘Whenever he gets money, he organises a langar at his house in Benaras,” she says. “The amount is divided into 25 parts.’’ The incident has raised a pertinent question. To what extent is the government responsible for artistes? His demand for a petrol pump for grandson Nadeem Khan, left many stunned. ‘‘He was suffering from heat stroke, and had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic. He was really scared about the fate of his family after his death. The media also hyped it,’’ she justifies.

Khan washes his own clothes, eats simple food. And on tours, he stays in cheap hotels. There is little doubt he leads a simple life. But the money he earns doesn’t suffice for the over 100-strong family he supports. ‘‘He is very conservative. But he has never asked for anything. This is the first time. He has never let his sons and grandsons come out and play on their own.’’

The result: none of them are self-reliant. ‘‘All his sons, daughters, sons-in-law, families of his uncle and brothers stay together in the century-old haveli that has about 35 rooms.”

“He also helps out friends and accompanists. He never keeps any money. His room is very hot. I once asked him, ‘Baba, can’t you have an AC?’ He said, ‘If I will have an AC then every room should have one, which I can’t afford,’’’ she recollects.