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From an outsider to being one of them

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Rajendra Bora Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, hailed as one of the most beautiful women in the world, added glamour to the Pink City when she arrived in the town in 1940 at the age of 21 as a third wife of Maharaja Man Singh, a veritable prince charming. Unlike his two earlier marriages, arranged by elders, the Maharaja himself chose his third bride. It was a love marriage between Man Singh and Gayatri Devi. And like any love marriage in traditional Indian society this high profile wedding also faced several hurdles. The first hurdle came from Gayatri Devi’s family in Cooch Behar. Even her mother, herself a great friend of the Jaipur Maharaja, was hesitant to give her daughter’s hand to a man already having two wives. However, Man Singh’s love for the beautiful princes triumphed and Cooch Behar family agreed for the wedding. The biggest challenge to the proposed marriage came from Jaipur nobles and also from the then British Government of India. Oppositon to the third marriage of the

जोधपुर से जुडी हैं उस्ताद अली अकबर खां साहेब की यादें

राजेंद्र बोड़ा सरोद के बेताज बादशाह उस्ताद अली अकबर खान साहेब का इंतकाल शास्त्रीय संगीत के एक युग पुरुष का हमारे बीच से उठ जाना है. उनके सरोद के तारों की धुन के दीवाने हिंदुस्तान में ही नहीं पूरी दुनिया में फैले हुए हैं. उनके निधन की खबर सुन कर खान साहेब की स्मृतियों में खो जाने वालों में राजस्थान के जोधपुर शहर के संगीत के रसिक भी हैं. बहुतों को नहीं मालूम होगा कि खान साहेब का तत्कालीन मारवाड़ की राजधानी जोधपुर से गहरा रिश्ता रहा. वास्तव में इस सरोदवादक को अपनी पहली असली कामयाबी इसी मरू भूमि पर मिली. वे जोधपुर दरबार में संगीतज्ञ के रूप में नियुक्त होकर आये और इस शहर में करीब सात बरस रहे. जोधपुर दरबार में ही उन्हें उस्ताद की उपाधि मिली. ये वो ज़माना था जब राज दरबारों में संगीतकारों की प्रतिभा को बुलंदियां मिलती थीं. जोधपुर में अपने जीवन की पहली असली उपलब्धि हासिल करने के बाद सरोद के तारों के इस जादूगर ने कभी पीछे मुड कर नहीं देखा. वे संगीत में सफलताओं के एक के बाद एक बड़े शिकार चढ़ते ही गए. उस्ताद अली अकबर खान साहेब का जोधपुर प्रवास के दिलचस्प किस्से स्वर्गीय संगीतकार रामलाल माथुर सुनाया

Jodhpur is proud of its association with legendry Ali Akbar Khan

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Rajendra Bora Jodhpur. With the passing away of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, who became a legend in his own life time, an era of Indian classical music has ended. The land of Marwar is proud of its association with the master of Sarod, a 25-stringed instrument, who brought the Indian classical music to the international stage. Ali Akbar Khan Saheb began his professional musical career in Jodhpur serving as court musician in 1940s. People of Jodhpur have always been proud of the fact that the Ustad started his journey to great musical heights from the land of Marwar.. In fact his first true achievement came when he was appointed the court musician in the Jodhpur Royal Court. It was also in the Jodhpur Royal Court that he was bestowed upon the title of ‘Ustad’ (master musician). Veteran music connoisseurs in Jodhpur still have fond memories of Ustad who, they remember, was a jovial fellow and a good cook too. He was provided with an official car from the court in which he would go on long drive