While the students of M S University’s Faculty of Performing Arts paid floral tributes to Ustad Faiyaz Ali Khan, known as Aftab-e-Mausiqui, on his 124th birth anniversary on Thursday, they could not reach his tomb as the place was blocked from all the sides.

A group of around 20 students from various departments of Faculty of Performing Arts assembled at some distance from the tomb of the legendary Dhrupad singer, who was a court musician at the assembly of the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad. Faiyaz Ali was also a source of inspiration to singers like K L Saigal and Lata Mangeshkar.

“He belonged to the lineage of Tansen. However, it is unfortunate that we could not reach his tomb to pay our homage,” said faculty member Rajesh Kelkar.

It was during the post-Godhra riots in 2002 that Khan’s tomb was damaged by a mob.

Kelkar along with other faculty members asserted that soon the MSU faculty would organise an event in the honour of Faiyaz Khan. “Barodians must know who he was. He is part of the city’s culture. I request the authorities to kindly look into the matter,” said Kelkar.