Ustad Rais Khan

It's hard to imagine the world of music without a few artistes. Their contribution to the art is so immense and unique that even when they aren't performing, just their presence motivates others around. Ustad Rais Khan was one such musician. He moved to Pakistan in the mid '80s. His demise has created a void that can never be filled. Nobody played the way he did.

My earliest recollection of him is as a 10-year-old boy. My father (Pandit Kartick Kumar) would always encourage me to attend his concerts. He was playing at the Suburban Music Circle in Mumbai. I went for the baithak with my mother, and we were seated in the fourth row. He broke a string of his sitar in the middle of the performance and a portion of it fell on my lap. I was surprised and showed it to my mom - it was like winning a trophy.