How is Pandit Jasraj's outburst to be interpreted? Should it be seen as the jealous charge of a musician, with an ego as big as his repertoire, or a cryfor some accountability in the dispensing of national honours? Pandit Jasraj's accusations have elements of both. Feuds among superstars are not uncommon. In the showdog-eat-showdog world of filmdom, they are the stuff that film gossip magazines get fat on. The classical music scene, although relatively far more sedate, has also thrown up some interesting and not-so-private squabbles. The cold war between the two doyens of classical sitar music, Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar, has raged for almost as long as the global Cold War did and unfortunately it gives no evidence of letting up. Every now and then, discordant notes manifest themselves in the public realm much to the embarrassment of the general connoisseurs of classical music who revere the extraordinary body of work of both masters.

It could even be argued that such skirmishes are only to be expected given the pride each creative genius takes in his/her work and the traditions that have nurtured it. Since there are high stakes involved,it is even more beholden on the State to conduct itself in a thoroughly non-partisan manner when it comes to handing out awards. The announcement of government awards, including sadly that of the Bharat Ratna, has often been characterised by a certain arbitrariness. This time, the announcements were made in an almost whimsical fashion, staggered over several weeks. Numerous questions were immediately raised. Why, for instance, was the former Assam chief minister Gopinath Bordoloi singled out for the honour, albeit posthumously, when there were numerous other contenders, including other worthy chief ministers? Why was a leader of the eminence of Jayaprakash Narayan given such belated recognition? And, yes, why was Pandit Ravi Shankar and not his eminent guru, Ustad Allauddin, honoured thus? Of course, there is no way any government can please all sections of people, all the time. But it can certainly be seen to play fair. The only way it can do this is to reduce its own involvement in the selection process andlet a well-represented, independent committee do the honours.