KOLKATA: Sarod player Shiraz Ali Khan, grandson of legendary musician Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, hit back at trolls who took a dig at him for posting photos of Lakshmi Puja celebrations at his residence. Shiraz had married Atrayee Sengupta in January 2020. This is the first year that Atrayee celebrated Lakshmi Puja at their Ranikuthi residence.
Atrayee told TOI that she had grown up watching her mother offer prayers to goddess Lakshmi. “I am happy that Shiraz supported me when I expressed a desire to perform this puja. My mother would perform the puja herself and read the ‘panchali’. I did the same on Wednesday. We want our child to grow up in an environment where he respects all religions,” she said.
Though many appreciated the puja photo Shiraz clicked and shared as his Facebook story, trolls jumped into the fray. “I was upset and disappointed to find a family friend from Bangladesh ridiculing my gesture. I do not support such behaviour. That’s why I wrote a post stating that whoever believes that this is the way to stand up for any community should unfriend me. They should not connect with me or my family in future,” Shiraz told TOI.
Condemning the incidents of violence during Durga Puja in Bangladesh, the great grandson of Baba Allauddin Khan pointed out that it is “significant” that this Lakshmi Puja was held just days after that incident. “Our puja sends out the right message about what I believe in. I am glad that not only Hindus, many Muslim friends on my social media have also supported me,” he said.
The young sarod player mentions the influence of his grandmother — Zubeida Khan — who he said had taught him to respect all religions. “She introduced me to the worship of Hindu gods and goddesses, including Ma Saraswati and Ma Kali. Though my great grandfather was a practicing Muslim who would offer namaaz five times a day, he also worshipped Ma Sarada,” said Shiraz.