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Guide, vocalist, Mohan Veena maestro to ensure a pleasant evening for Musharraf

K K Mohammed, who will take Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and his wife Begum Sebha Musharraf around the Taj Mahal, is a busy man these days.

Mohammed is not just one of the guides hovering near the Taj Mahal. He is a superintendent archaeologist with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and, for the last one week, has been meticulously overseeing preparations at the Taj Mahal to ensure a smooth visit for Gen Musharraf and his wife.

Shrugging off veiled comments by some of his colleagues that he was chosen to be the guide because he is a Muslim, Mohammed has been busy giving interviews to mediapersons.

"I am happy and thrilled to have been chosen to escort Gen Musharraf and his wife around the Taj Mahal," he told rediff.com.

"But I will be one among four ASI officials who will attend to the Pakistani president and his wife," Mohammed said.

"Surely, our esteemed guests would know much about the Taj Mahal. But we will still have a job at hand, showing them the monument and explaining the various intricacies associated with it," Mohammed added.

The ASI official said that the monument will be closed for other visitors on Sunday though the VVIP guests would visit the place only in the evening.

While President Musharraf would concentrate on the summit and limit his tourist outings to a visit to the Taj Mahal, his wife Begum Sebha Musharraf will spend the whole of Sunday crisscrossing the city and the historical monuments in the vicinity.

Begum Musharraf is scheduled to visit Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and the Id-mad-uddaullah, which houses the tomb of Noor Jehan's father Mirza Gyas Baig.

Rita Singh, chief development officer of Agra, who will accompany Sebha Musharraf said the administration had about 25 handicraft outlets in mind if Begum Musharraf decided to go shopping in Agra.

The Pakistani president and his wife will also be treated to a cultural show on Sunday, which includes a 30-minute performance by vocalist Shubha Mudgal and a Mohan Veena recital by India's sole Grammy winner - Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Jaipur-based Pandit Bhatt rose to fame when he performed on the Mohan Veena with a modified form of a Hawaiian guitar.

One of his most memorable programmes was a live show at London's Albert Hall in 1997.

"I am happy to have been invited to perform before Gen Musharraf and have composed a special piece for him. I am sure he will enjoy the cultural programme," Pandit Bhatt said.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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