THE singing legend and ghazal maestro, Mehdi Hassan, is no more with us.

The news of his death has saddened all music lovers in the world, especially in the subcontinent. With his melodious voice and impressive command over ghazal singing, he enlivened Urdu ghazal, mesmerising listeners with soulful and soul-stirring music.

Thanks to his melodious voice and marvellous cadence, he has rightly earned the title of Shahanshah-i-Ghazal. With his death a golden era of music comes to an end.

Words humble me to aptly and adequately praise him. The more we say about this great legend of music, the less it is.

Though he has left this ephemeral world, his honeyed voice will always delight the lovers of Urdu classical music around the world.

Indeed, he has immortalised himself with his hundreds of popular songs and ghazals he has sung, putting his heart and soul in every performance. The void left by him is difficult to be filled, for he was inimitable.

KHADIM HUSSAIN SUBHPOTO Hyderabad

Tribute from India

WE are aggrieved to learn about the death of the doyen of gahazals, Mehdi Hassan. The art and culture fraternity has become poorer by losing him.

Our late Dr Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib, often admired the ghazals sung by the maestro. I am privileged and fortunate to have sought blessings from Mehdi Hassan way back on Dec 20 and 21, 1988, when he visited us in Gwalior at the famous Tansen Samroah, and entertained us in his melodious voice.

NARENDERA K. GUPTA Vice-President Dr late Ustad Bismillah Khan Educational Society New Delhi

A legend

LEGENDARY Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan has left behind a legacy of excellence in the art of ghazal singing. With him a glorious chapter in our history of music has ended.

More importantly, it is another reflection of how we treat our artistes when they need us the most.

DR IRFAN ZAFAR Islamabad