Date:08/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/08/stories/2003080803521200.htm

National

Free medical seat for Bismillah Khan's grand-daughter

By Our Special Correspondent

Photo: T.L. Prabhakar

Manisha Raza, grand-daughter of Ustad Bismillah Khan, receiving allotment letter for free medical seat from the Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, in Bangalore on Thursday. Zaffer Raza, son of the maestro, is also seen.

Bangalore Aug. 7. Manisha Raza, granddaughter of shehnai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan, has been offered a "free seat" in a medical college in the city.

Ms. Raza, who scored high marks in her school examination in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is delighted. She has been offered a seat in the Vydehi Medical College, Whitefield, under the management quota. Industrialist Adikeshavalu, who is the college chairman, readily obliged when the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, urged him to offer her a seat.

According to Mr. Krishna's office, it all started some weeks ago when Ustad Bismillah Khan was sent Rs. 2 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for his medical expenses. The Chief Minister had come to know about the great artist's strained circumstances through the media. Soon, the Ustad expressed his thanks in a letter sent through his son, Zafar Raza, and granddaughter, Ms. Raza.

The academic career of Ms. Raza was mentioned in the Ustad's letter. He asked if the Chief Minister could help her get a medical seat outside the capitation fee framework. Mr. Krishna, who is a music lover, responded.

On Thursday, Mr. Raza, his daughter, and Mr. Adikeshavalu called on the Chief Minister at his office in Vidhana Soudha to express their gratitude for his gesture and to receive the admission documents from him.