Sarod player forced to flee Bangladesh hiding Indian identity

KOLKATA: A Kolkata-based sarod subordinate with household roots successful Bangladesh and an illustrious bequest successful the satellite of euphony had to fly the neighbouring state erstwhile the venue was vandalised hours earlier his programme, leaving him shocked and his tabla subordinate inactive stuck there.Shiraz Ali Khan had a performance scheduled astatine Chhayanaut successful Dhaka connected Dec 19. But hours earlier the scheduled programme, the civilization hub was vandalised amid a nationwide spiral of unrest triggered by the decease of Sharif Osman Hadi, a extremist person who played a cardinal relation successful past year's anti-Hasina protests.Shiraz managed to "flee" to Kolkata connected Saturday evening, suppressing his Indian individuality connected the way. His tabla subordinate is inactive stuck determination and hoping to instrumentality connected Monday.Shiraz's begetter is Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, lad of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan. Although based successful Kolkata, Shiraz's household has roots crossed the border. His great-grandfather, Ustad Allauddin Khan, was from Brahmanbaria. "Some years ago, a assemblage successful Ustad Allauddin Khan's sanction (in Brahmanbaria) was attacked. But the onslaught connected Chhayanaut is an unimaginable battle connected our civilization and shared values," Shiraz said.

Shiraz arrived successful Dhaka connected Dec 16, successful clip for a jazz performance connected Dec 17 successful Banani. His large classical euphony recital was scheduled for Dec 19. "Despite the tiny gathering of 17-18 people, the acquisition (in Banani) was heartfelt. I didn't expect that days later, calamity would deed our philharmonic community. On the greeting of Dec 19, I learned astir the onslaught connected Chhayanaut. I couldn't judge the gathering wherever I was to execute was destroyed.

Seeing the disturbing images was beyond belief, particularly arsenic idiosyncratic who holds euphony and its sacredness successful the highest regard," Shiraz told TOI. While trying to permission Dhaka, Shiraz was stopped astatine a checkpoint. "I was asked if I had overseas currency. Fortunately, I didn't. For the archetypal time, I didn't notation my Indian identity. Aware of anti-India sentiments, I spoke successful the Brahmanbaria dialect. My mother, from Brahmanbaria, settled successful India aft her matrimony successful 1968.

I learned the dialect from her," helium said.Shiraz's Khan surname helped. "People thought I was from Bangladesh, not India. I ne'er thought I'd person to fell my Indian identity. I gave my Indian passport and telephone to the driver, who kept them successful the car's dashboard. I got them backmost astatine the airport. I don't cognize what would person happened if I hadn't concealed my identity. My parent is inactive successful Bangladesh. My Hindu accompanists are besides stranded successful Dhaka. I won't uncover their names for their safety," helium said, adding helium "won't return" to "Bangladesh until artists, music, and taste institutions are respected and protected".