Music is one of the entertainment areas which almost all the people in the world like. The music of India includes multiple varieties of classical music, folk music, film, and Indian pop. It is noteworthy to mention that Indian classical music is divided into two main traditions: Carnatic and Hindustani. Folk music is an important part of India's musical heritage and is characterized by its unique rhythms, melodies, and lyrics. One of the famous names in classical music is Ustad Rashid Khan. The great classical singer Ustad Rashid Khan, who was undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital for prostate cancer, died on January 9, 2024. The classical singer was 55 years old. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. The singer was born on July 1, 1968, at Badayun, Uttar Pradesh. He received his initial training from his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. Rashid Khan was also the nephew of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. The singer, who belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, is the great-grandson of Gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan. All these reveal the fact that Ustad Rashid Khan’s family members were associated with music generation after generation. It is pertinent to mention that Rashid Khan performed his first concert at the age of eleven years, and in 1978, he performed at an ITC concert in New Delhi. In April 1980, when Nissar Hussain Khan moved to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA), Calcutta/Kolkata, Rashid Khan also joined the academy at the age of 14 years. Thus, throughout his life, he was a popular classical singer. Rashid Khan is best known for the Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapoor film Jab We Met's superhit song Aaoge Jab Tum. Also, he has sung in many films, and I have listened to his Rabindra Sangeet (songs written by Rabindranath Tagore), which is excellent. The sudden demise of great classical singer Ustad Rashid Khan is a great loss in the music world of the country as he passed away only at the age of 55 years. Rashid Khan was awarded the Padma Bhushan. He received the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. As per the latest news, his last rites will be performed in his native village of Uttar Pradesh, where his mortal remains will be buried.
Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad
1 Comments
Dear Dada, Namaskar. Saddened by the untimely demise of Ustad Rashid Khan at 55 years. He will always be remembered for his unique singing mesmerizing people over years. My heart felt condolences and prayers for his Soul to rest in peace. 🙏🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteProf Madhav Rao, former professor and head (GIS), NIRDPR, Hyderabad