December 19, 2007	Wednesday	Zilhaj 8, 1428

FAISALABAD, Dec 18: Legends, whether they are writers, painters, artistes or musicians lend significance to the places they had been living in and the things they used, and governments or their fans recognise their greatness by showing reverence for all things associated with them.

However, renowned singer and musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan despite all the honour he earned world over seemingly could not convince the government or any organisation of his greatness.

What makes a fan of the music maestro uncomfortable while passing through Lasoori Shah Road – where the late Nusrat’s ancestral house is located – is that the building where the music genius spent his childhood and spent his days struggling to get recognised by the world is being used as sale point of sacrificial animals.

It becomes painful to hear brash bargaining arguments mixed with bleating of goats and snorting of big sacrificial animals instead of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa when you pass by the building.

The unease turns into shock when one sees the room, where once Nusrat would practice ragas, occupied by cows and goats. The remaining part of the semi-demolished building has become a cattle pen. Nusrat’s family members sold the inherited house a couple of months ago to one Haider Abbass Shah, who has no qualms about putting the place to an all together different use.

“I am not interested in saving the house only because it once belonged to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. I am now the owner of the property and have established the animal sale centre here for the time being,” he said. He argued that Nusrat left the house years ago and settled in Lahore.

Rafiq Ahmed, a resident of the locality, thinks differently. “Keeping in view Nusrat’s status, the house should be declared a monument. It should be renovated and open for visitors. It is a matter of shame for the government that the place where a legend spent his childhood is being used as an animal sale point. The place could also be used as a music academy,” he said.

Most of the locality residents remember Nusrat as a meek fellow and feel sad over the use of his ancestral place, bemoaning the government apathy which they said should have been more sensitive to the worth of the building