Repairs on at Faiyaz Khan 'mazaar'

VADODARA: Eminent classical singer Ustad Faiyaz Khan''s ''mazaar'', which was desecrated by mobs during riots, is now being repaired by music lovers of the city. The riotous mob has also thrown burnt tyres inside the mausoleum of the great musician with the aim to set it on fire. Since the past few months, the tomb stood there without repairs. But now with help from music lovers in the city the repairs are in progress, said Anil Gadgil who is supervising the repairs.Ustad Faiyaz Khan was the Raj Gayak in Maharaja Sayajiraos'' court, and is known in India and other countries as ''Sangeet Samrat''. He hailed from the Agra gharana and is exponent of the Rangila gharana was well-known for his renditions in Dhrupad, tapa and Thumri. The ''mazaar'' of the eminent musician is sacred for all music lovers, and on Thursdays many music lovers come to the mausoleum for prayers. When eminent singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi visited Vadodara sometime in 1973, the first place they went to was this ''mazaar'' which lies amongst a wasteland in Khaswadi behind the Aradhana talkies. Well-known quawali singers Hamsar and Hayat Ali have also visited the sacred ''mazaar'' when they were in Vadodara a year ago.