First Concert of Life and the Sequence

It was on 4th of November 2005--i was getting a chance to meet Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma for the third time within a span of 12 months. I met him on 26th of December in Puttaparthi (which was my first meeting with him), and i also talked with him there. His son, Rahul, was also with him, but i could not talk to him. On August 8, 2005, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma was to present a concert in Chandigarh--it was my first chance to listen to his enchanting music. And now, he was coming to the very town where i lived--it was almost a dream that we could not even dream!

I forgot the name of Tabla player who accompanied Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma in our town, though i do remember that it was Akram Khan with him in Chandigarh. I remember Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma mentioning that Ustad Shahfat Ali Khan was to accompany him during his concert in Chandigarh, but very unfortunately, Ustad Shahfat Ali Khan died few days back--it was a very shocking news to me, as i liked the Tabla of Ustad Shahfat Ali Khan. But anyway, Akram Khan played it beautifully to match the master. The concert was to be held among the walls of old fort that we have at our town. Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma came on stage and tuned the things. Then he started in Punjabi--he greeted the people and started with Raga Bhoopali. I again forgot what Tala the Tabla player picked. But anyway, it was a very good piece of music--i need to mention that Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma avoided the usual routine of Indian Classical Raga presentation and started his concert directly with Gat, avoiding Alaap, Jod, and Jhaala part.

After the concert finished, i went to meet him. I touched his feet and asked him if he recoganizes me--though i knew that it won't happen, but due to the frequency and some incidents that happened in Chandigarh concert, i thought he might have a faint memory of me. But it was not the case--i told him some incidents and then he was able to relate them somewhat. Anyway, it was a thoroughly enjoying time, and we were expecting that next time, we will have Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia with us--which did happened!