Dil me ik lahar si uthi hai abhi

Welcome and Introduction

Ghulam Ali Arrives

Ghulam Ali Show : January 16, 1983, Kota

16 January 1983, It was just my fifth day into my teens and my father introduced me to one of the legendary ghazal singers of our times, Ghulam ali saab.. My father was one of the core groups organizers of the Ghulam Ali show in the city of Kota and yes first of its kind then.. It was the first time when Ghulam Ali saab got visa to perform and came to Kota for that show.. Ghulam Ali saab was not an unknown name for us as since the age of 5 or 6 I have had privilage to listen Artists like Mehdi Hasan, Kumar Gandharva, Ghulam Ali and Jagjit Singh all the time on our philips record player (ofc Radio Ceylon too).. So I was anxiously waiting for the first of its kind meet with some famous personality.. and the day arrived.. Ghulam Ali saab was scheduled to arrive at the JK Guest House at around 6.30 PM and the show was to commence from 7.00 PM... We reached the location (JK open auditorium) and the place was already full house.. My father told us that he has left from delhi in a taxi and would reach the place directly by 7.30 PM.. 8.00 PM People were waiting but there were no sign of Ghulam Ali saaheb.. Half an hour later my father got a message that his taxi is stuck in a highway jam... People were told that there would be a little delay and a few promising talents (I think it was a young kid called roshan bharti) were given stage and they did a fairly good job.. 10.30 PM still no news of arrival and people were still waiting.. I do clearly remember that not a single person had left even after a wait of three hours.. Finally after a wait of 4 hours we got the good news that Ghulam Ali saab is arriving in 10 mins.. He did not wasted anytime in washups and came directly to the location at 11.30PM and said sorry to everyone waiting for him.. Nobody was bothered to hear sorry but were waiting for him to start the daur of ghazals... what followed in next 5 hours for us was mesmerizing moments of live ghazal listening.. sheer magical and all were spell bound.. The session include Maine laakhon ke bol sahe, hungama, ye dil ye paagal dil mera, dil me ik lehar si uthi, Hamko kiske gham ne maara, Chupke Chupke raat din, kal chaudhvi ki raat thi, Main nazar se pi raha hoon and many more gems..

One of the most memorable night of my life.. Memories to cherish forever