Wife unaware Kabul his last stage

For two days now, no newspapers have been allowed into tabla maestro Nawab Khan's house in east Delhi's Laxmi Nagar, the television has not been switched on. Khan's wife, Mubina, is not to know that her husband was among the 9 Indians killed in the Taliban attack in Kabul on Friday.

His body has been flown back in a special aircraft but family members believe the news can wait. "His wife has a high blood pressure problem. We only told her that he has been injured in the attack and is critical but still alive. We fear that news of his death can lead to a brain haemorrage," said Nawab Khan's younger brother, Shahbuddin Khan.

The 52-year-old tabla player was in Afghanistan for a series of performances, as part of a cultural group of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The artistes were staying at the Safi Landmark Hotel in central Kabul where Taliban suicide bombers and gunmen struck. Khan was travelling wiht is brother Alauddin and nephew Kashif Ahmed.

"We have been hearing very conflicting reports on what happened at the hotel. We were told by ICCR that during the bomb explosion, a portion of the wall in my uncle's room collapsed on him and he suffocated to death," said Amjad Chaudhary, Alauddin's son. "But we heard rumours that the Taliban had forcibly entered the hotel rooms. My father has not been able to even speak to me. I spoke to Kashif for a few minutes only and he was equally shaken. Both of them have minor injuries."

Khan was, in fact, packing to leave for the airport when the attack took place. "He left for Kabul on February 15 and was due back on February 26. We are happy that he was able to perform at the cultural show for which he made the journey," said a family member.

Surived by six children, four of them still in school, Khan's family is worried about how the family will make ends meet. The eldest son is 23 years old while the youngest is just five. "We knew it was a hostile environment and my brother had his reservations too. But he still chose to go. He was travelled to several places for his shows," said Shahbuddin.

Khan was the son of famous sarangi player, Banne Khan, and had played the tabla with greats Ghulam Ali, Rashid Khan, Begum Parveen Sultana and Salamat Ali Khan. Alauddin, who is one of the country's few esraj (a string instrument) players, was a frequent companion. "Nawab started learning the tabla when was just seven years old and earned quite a name for himself," said Shahbuddin.

ICCR announces Rs 10L, job for Nawab's son

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of tabla maestro Nawab Khan who was killed in the Taliban attack in Kabul on Friday. His eldest son will also be given a job at ICCR. "This is the first time that a cultural troupe of ICCR has been attacked and we share the anguish of the deceased's family," said ICCR director-general Virender Gupta.

- Indian Writer.