In Memoriam Of Ustad Rashid Khan
·
·
Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, perhaps the last proponent of Rampur Sahaswan gayaki, passed away yesterday after a four-year battle with cancer.
Born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, Rashid Khan began his journey under the tutelage of his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan.
As a musical prodigy, he delivered his first concert at the age of 11, eventually joining the prestigious ITC Sangeet Research Academy at 14.
He was the 31st generation descendant of Sangeet Samrat Mian Tansen,
Guided by his strict disciplinarian grandfather, Nissar Hussain Khan, Rashid Khan’s rigorous training began at 4 am, focusing on a single note for an entire day.
For a brief period of time, he also trained under Hindustani classical legend Ghulam Mustafa Khan in Mumbai.
Rashid Khan’s singing embraced the slow elaboration of vilambit khayals, a trait inherited from his grand-uncle. Mastering sargams and sargam taankari, he developed a unique style.
His exceptional contributions earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. In 2022, he received the Padma Bhushan and was also honored by the West Bengal government with Banga Bibhushan and Sangeet Mahasamman.
Beyond classical music, Rashid Khan ventured into fusion, blending Hindustani melodies with diverse genres. His collaborations ranged from Sufi fusion in ‘Naina Piya Se’ to experimental concerts with Western instrumentalist Louis Banks.
Khan also lent his soulful voice to Hindi and Bengali film songs from 2004 to 2019.
Some of his iconic songs include “Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna” in ‘Jab We Met’ (2007), “Alah Hi Rahem” in ‘My Name is Khan’ (2010), and ‘Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain’ in ‘Manto’ (2018).
The musical maestro was accorded state honors in Kolkata, laid to rest with a gun salute as a final tribute to his incredible legacy.
Click Here To Read More:
Comments