IMPACT OF THE MOVEMENT

Jaiswal to invite Bismillah Khan for India Gate concertNEW DELHI, April 26, 2006 (PTI) Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal, will visit Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan's house in Varanasi on Friday to personally extend an invitation to the legend, who has expressed his 'last wish' to play at the India Gate in July for global peace and communal harmony. The non-agenarian Ustad, who enthralled a newly-independent India from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 1947, has now been given official nod to fulfil his wish of a solo concert, titled 'The Tune India' at the India Gate on July 15. The initiative was taken by the capital-based couple Neena Jha and Shivnath Jha, who have launched an initiative "Bismillah" (The Beginning) to provide succour to musicians, academicians and artists who have brought laurel to the country. "As a part of the initiative, I am going to request the maestro to play his melodious 'sur' at India Gate for global peace and communal harmony and to pay respects to the World War I martyrs," said Jaiswal.... Union Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, who had announced a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 per month for the ailing musician, said the concert would "play a key role in restoring peace and communal harmony not only in India, but across the world."