Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s week-long ordeal, which began with the British government denying him a visa for a concert in September, has ended. Khan Sahib, as he is reverentially and affectionately known the world over, has finally been granted the elusive visa.
Speaking with much relief and some (misplaced) gratitude, Khan Sahib said:
Yes, the visa for my UK concert has been granted to me, finally. I am grateful to Mr Keith Vaz and Shrimati Sushma Swaraj for their initiative.
Khan Sahib says he was summoned to the UK visa office on Friday afternoon.
I was called to be at the visa office for the third time. I’ve now been granted a visa for the UK from 19 August to 19 September. Though I had asked for a visa till November, I am just relieved the ordeal is over. I am so glad to gave got my passport back. Now I can again travel the world with my sarod. My concert at the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank on 18 September is now on.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan leaves on Saturday for a tenure of residency at the Indiana University Bloomington. During the tenure he will take a break to perform in France and the UK.
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