Celebrating the man who keeps classical music alive

Ustad Bashir Butt singing a Tarana. Despite his old age and frail appearance still lives for his music and is always willing to guide and advise upcoming artistes. PHOTO | ALLAUDIN QURESHI

What you need to know:

  • Papaji has composed innovative musicals for numerous local theatrical presentations by City Arts and Natak Theatre Group.
  • Despite his old age and frail appearance still lives for his music and is always willing to guide and advise upcoming artistes. I have had the honour to share a stage and compere concerts presented by him and take this opportunity to salute Papaji.

“If music be the food of life then play on”. Playwright William Shakespeare may not have realised when writing this that centuries later, a Kenyan maestro will prove him right. Ustad Bashir Butt is Kenya’s lone keeper of the sacred art of Indian classical Ragas.

Popularly referred to as Ustadji by his pupils and as Papaji by his family, Papaji’s name evokes nostalgia of the days when traditional Hindustani music compositions were revered in Kenya and Ragas reigned supreme in our mehfils (concert).

Those were the days when Madaraka Day was marked with the singing of patriotic songs. Papaji has served the cause of Indian classical music in Kenya by not only performing but also teaching and grooming young enthusiasts. This he has accomplished in no ordinary manner as most of our music performers and teachers revere him as their guru — as such I call him a mentor of mentors.

Old Nairobians still remember and cherish Papaji exclusive concerts in the company of his equally talented sibling Laiq Butt. The mesmerising classical and semi classical compositions the brothers used to sing at Nairobi’s City Art Society mehfils in the 1960s were in a class of their own.

As a prize protégé of the Shyam Chaurasi house of music, Papaji has composed innovative musicals for numerous local theatrical presentations by City Arts and Natak Theatre Group.

Despite his old age and frail appearance still lives for his music and is always willing to guide and advise upcoming artistes. I have had the honour to share a stage and compere concerts presented by him and take this opportunity to salute Papaji.

His unflinching love and dedication and selfless service to Hindustani music in Kenya has no parallel and may he carry on serving our musical and cultural heritage for many more years to come.

Elsewhere Miss India Worldwide Kenya 2016 was held last night at Simba Union Club. Indian beauties from across Kenya presented themselves for a chance to be selected to represent the country in New York, for the pageant’s Silver Jubilee. The reigning Miss India Kenya is Aliza Rajan. Proceeds from last night’s gala pageant will assist the Women for Cancer initiative.