MUMBAI: Most would fear to speak their heart out, but not sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. The Ustaad who will be performing this week in Mumbai for HelpMeSee and Music For Life International (MFLI) to fight the global issue of cataract blindness feels that just like cataract, a lot of other issues can be solved.

On the current cultural ban between India and Pakistan, the maestro states,"India and Pakistan were one before participation. So, no matter what we will get back together. I feel for us as a nation it's more important to have a friendship with our neighbouring countries. Neighbours help each other."

Not many know, but post Partition, Khan was the first artiste to break the cultural silence. "I was the first Indian to go to Pakistan in 1981. This was 25 years after the cultural silence. All the big musicians in Pakistan came to greet me back then. Natwar Singh was the ambassador and Mani Shakar Aiyar was the Counsul General in Karachi. I don't think a 25-year silence will continue again. This is temporary."

The musician says that it is really sad to hear stories of Shia and Sunni Muslims killing each other. Both belong to one community, but their enmity between the two sects has taken many lives. "It is sad to hear that education could not create compassion and kindness in a human heart," states Khan who feels that one should focus more on feeding the hungry.

He goes on to explain that there are nearly 10 lakh people in our country who sleep hungry every night. And hopes that the government would solve the food, water, and electricity issue for them.

The Ustaad was denied a UK visa some time ago, but things were sorted later. Talking about it, he shares, "I am grateful to the British high commissioner for letting me perform at the Royal Festival Hall. The total capacity of the hall is 2500 and it was all sold out. I had never experienced something like this in my entire life."

Khan will be performing at two concert stages for MFLI. 20 October 2016 in Mumbai at the Tata Theatre at the National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai and on 23 October 2016 in Delhi at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi.

"So many people suffer from cataract blindness and I deeply feel for this cause,” says the sarod Maestro who is the brand ambassador of HelpMeSee.

Furthermore, the concerts will feature Ustad Amjad Ali Khan as a soloist in his 'Samaagam' concerto for Sarod and Orchestra, and Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring respectively. This project will represent a major Indo-US cultural diplomacy collaboration which represents an opportunity to include the participation of both governments and private sector institutions and individuals from both countries.

Others associated with the concert are, Indian conductor and MFLI artistic director, George Mathew; renowned American violinist; Elmira Darvarova (the first woman ever to serve as Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York); and the Bombay Chamber Orchestra which has brought orchestral music to Indian audiences for more than half a century.

“I received an invitation from Scottish Chamber Orchestra in 2009. They trusted me and requested me to compose for them. This time, I am working with Bombay Chamber Orchestra. I have named this concerto for Sarod and Orchestra ‘Samaagam’ – the Sanskrit word for community or gathering. I will also be performing with George Mathew for the first time,” explains the musician.

MFLI and HelpMeSee will host a series of concerts to support the global campaign to end cataract blindness. The grand finale concert, ‘Mahler for Vision’ will be held at Carnegie Hall, New York in February 2017.