“Guru ko zinda rakhna hi mera kaam hai,” says renowned classical singer Rita Ganguly and disciple of Begum Akhtar. To celebrate the legacy of renowned ghazal singer, Rita along with Kaladharmi, an NGO is organising Jamal-e-Begum Akhtar at the India Habitat Centre on October 6.
After Akhtar passed away in 1974, the organisation has been celebrating her punya tithi from the past 32 years.
The programme would be a curtain raiser to round the year celebration, where many renowned artistes including Hariharan and Madhushree of Rang De Basanti fame will participate. Cartoonist Sudhir Telang would also sketch live on the stage. Rita who fondly addresses begum as “ammi”, says that guru shishya parampara still exists today.
“Life is full of ammi’s memories. She was the first one to tell me that ‘you’re talented, just search for yourself’. She used to call me beta and believed that I would take her legacy forward.”
Rita continues to adhere to popularise the traditional modes of music including Dadra, Ghazal and allied forms of music.
She has also written a book on Begum titled Ae Mohabbat … Reminiscing Begum Akhtar. She wants to take Begum Akhtar’s music on a global scale by organising shows in other countries as well. “I’m living because of music. And till, I’m alive, I’ll keep ammi alive.”