The Late Maharajadhiraja Ummed Singh Maharaja of Jodhpur, had a magnificent palace constructed on the Chhittar hillock during his reign. It was finally completed in 1943 after years of hard labour. Formerly known as the Chhittar Palace, it was later formally christened as the Ummed Bhawan Pal ace. The old timers of Jodhpur still refer to the structure by its former name. In 1993 Ummed Singh's grandson, Gaj Singh, celebrated the golden Jubilee of the palace's construction with great pomp and ceremony. He invited for this occasion, the renowned sarod maestro, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, to Jodhpur and put him up in the hotel wing of the palace. The Ustad had been court musician during the reign of both Ummed Singh and later Hanuwant Singh (Gaj Singh's father). During his tenure at the court, I had received training in music from the Ustad for five years and had been the grateful recipient of his musical munificence.
A friend of mine had already informed me that the Ustad was expected to come down from the USA especially for the function. He later sent me an official invitation as well. I was then, as now, working as the Director (Music and Dance) at the Rajasthan state run Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur.
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