I AM unable to find appropriate words to pay tribute to Mehdi Hassan. He had a unique melodious voice like all great singers such as Kundan Lal Saigal, Lata, Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Noor Jahan, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. No one can replace K.L. Saigal or Lata or Mohammad Rafi and so no no can replace Mehdi Hassan.

He was perfect in ghazal singing, an amazing mix of classical and semi-classical.

He gave meaning to the ghazals he sang; and conveyed the message much better than the poet himself/herself. Each and every word of the ghazal he sang transformed into a fascinating melody and touched the strings of the heart.

It is so sad that he died but we are so lucky that he was among us. He was our singer, we own him and he will remain a legendary asset for all of us.

Mehdi Hassan was born when the means to preserve such melodious voices were invented. Mian Tansen (1506-1589), father of classical singing, was the greatest musician and singer but recording facility was not available at that time and so we can’t imagine even a single glimpse of his mesmerising melodies. But his sweet melodies have mesmerised generation after generation through the means of successive great singers, including Mehdi Hassan.

Mehdi Hassan will remain alive in people’s hearts and memories for centuries to come.

We miss everything after losing it, so is the case with Mehdi Hassan. His memorial, inaugurated by his own hands should have been constructed in his life that we may construct now after his death.

I am reminded of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s line: “Music, when soft voices die, vibrates in the memory”.

SQN LDR (Rtd) ZULFIQAR AHMAD Rawalpindi