Rashid Khan (1968–2024) was a renowned Indian classical musician who specialized in Hindustani music. He belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana and was the great-grandson of the gharana’s founder, Inayat Hussain Khan. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi once remarked that Rashid Khan was the guarantee of the future of Indian vocal music. Rashid Khan was awarded the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006 for his contribution to the field of music. In 2022, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Rashid Khan was born on Monday, 1 July 1968 (age at time of death 55 years) in Sahaswan, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, India. His zodiac sign was Cancer. He did not receive formal education. Rashid Khan’s mother Shakhri Begum belonged to a family of musicians in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. His uncle, Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan, was a highly respected figure in the Sahaswan Gharana. Shekri Begum had dreamed of raising both her sons to become famous musicians like their uncle. However, she became depressed when she lost her young son. Shekri Begum died when Rashid Khan was four years old.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
parents and siblings
His father Hamiz Raza Khan was a Sufi singer.
Young Rashid Khan with his family
His mother’s name was Shekri Begum.
wife and children
Although Rashid Khan did not receive formal education, he admired educated and beautiful women and wanted to marry them regardless of caste or creed. At a wedding reception he met Joita (Soma) Basu, a Bengali girl from Guwahati, and soon they decided to get married. Their long phone calls worried Rashid’s strict grandfather, who protested against the decision. However, at the age of 23, Rashid went ahead and married Soma with the support of his maternal uncle, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. On 2 December 1991, he married Joita (Soma) Basu Khan. Rashid Khan once told in a media interview that he and Soma belong to different religions. He said,
Meeting my wife is the best moment of my life. Our love story is completely different. Our religion is different.”
Rashid Khan and Soma Basu on their wedding day
She works as the Managing Director at ‘Rashid Khan Music Academy’ in Kolkata.
Rashid Khan with his wife Soma Khan
His son Armaan Khan is a musician.
Rashid Khan with his son Armaan Khan
They have two daughters named Suha Khan (a Sufi singer) and Shaona Khan (a singer).
Rashid Khan with his daughters
Rashid Khan’s musical journey
After his mother’s death in 1972, he was looked after by his father and aunt. He loved playing Kabaddi and cricket. Although people in the neighborhood knew that he was good at singing and had a great memory for music, it was difficult to arouse his interest because of his interest in sports. His father had difficulty controlling the playful and stubborn six-year-old Rashid. Later, his father took him to Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan, a musician and a strict elder of the family. Rashid was afraid of him.
childhood picture of rashid khan
Once while talking to the media, he had told that when he was a child, he had no interest in music. But later, his uncle Ghulam Mustafa Khan noticed that as he grew up, he became good at it. He taught him in Mumbai for some time. However, he received formal education in music from Nisar Hussain Khan at Nisar’s house in Badaun. Rashid Khan’s music teacher, Nisar Hussain Khan, was known for his strict teaching methods. He would start voice training at 4 in the morning and make Rashid practice single notes of the scale for hours. As a child, Rashid did not enjoy these lessons, but the discipline they taught him helped him excel in taan and layakari.
a teenage rashid khan
Rashid Khan gave his first concert at the age of 11. In 1978, he performed at an ITC concert in Delhi before joining the ITC Music Research Academy (SRA) in Calcutta at the age of 14, following his teacher Nisar Hussain Khan. Rashid Khan’s singing style is based on the Rampur-Sahaswan singing style, which is closely linked to the Gwalior tradition. This style involves singing at a medium-slow pace, using the full throated voice, and playing complex rhythms. Rashid Khan followed in his maternal uncle’s footsteps by combining slow and elaborate singing in his performances. He also became proficient in using sargam and sargam tankari, which involves playing with musical scales. The singing style of Amir Khan and Bhimsen Joshi influenced Rashid Khan.
Rashid Khan in 1992
music album
In 1991, he released his first music album “Raag Bageshree/Desh”. In 1993, he released the album ‘Rashid Khan Live in Concert’. Rashid officially became a recognized composer at the Academy in 1994. After this he released many music albums and songs like Rashid Khan – Ustad Rashid Khan (1995), Khayal (1996), The Genius of Rashid Khan (2000), Voice. Of India (2002), Morning Mantra (2003), Master Piece Ustad Rashid Khan (2006), Kabir (2009), Baithaki Rabi – Ustad Rashid Khan (2012), Classical Wonders of India (2015), Krishna – Ustad Rashid Khan ( 2013) etc.
Poster of the music album ‘The Genius of Rashid Khan’ (2000)
Rashid Khan’s musical innovation
Rashid Khan was a renowned musician who, like his music teacher Nisar Hussain, had mastered Tarana, a type of musical composition. However, he made his mark by preferring the Khayal style rather than the stroke-based instrumental style for which his teacher was known. Rashid did not copy the sounds of the instruments but added his own touch to the music. During his live performances, Rashid Khan was known for bringing emotional depth to his melodic expanses. He believed in expressing emotions through different parts of the performance. This involved conveying the meaning of the alap, or song, while singing the bandish. His style was more modern than that of the old masters who focused more on impressive techniques and skillful execution.
Rashid Khan playing sitar
film songs
He made his Bollywood debut in 2004 with the song ‘Tore Bina Mohe Chain Nahi’ from the Bollywood film ‘Kisna: The Warrior Poet’. In 2007, Rashid Khan lent his voice to the song ‘Aaoge Jab Tum Sajna’ from the film Jab. We met. She sang many songs in Bollywood films, such as “Bhor Bhayo” from the 2009 film Morning Walk, “Poore Se Zara Sa” from the 2011 film Mausam, “Deewana Kar Raha Hai” from the film Raaz 3 (2012). “Kabhi Aayiin Pe” from Hate Story 2 (2014), “Tu Banja Gali” from the 2017 film Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana, “Milon Ke Faasle” from the 2018 film Ishqeria, “Marwa” from the 2022 film Mi Vasantrao.
Poster of the song ‘Tu Banja Gali’ from the 2017 film ‘Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana’
Rashid Khan’s musical fusion
Rashid Khan attempted to blend traditional Hindustani music with lighter styles, as seen in the Sufi fusion recording “Naina Piya Se” (lyrics by Amir Khusro) and experimental concerts with Western instrumentalist Louis Banks. He also participated in jugalbandis, musical duels with sitarist Shahid Parvez and others. Rashid Khan’s official website titled him as “31st generation descendant of Mian Tansen”.
Presentation by Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Rashid Khan
Awards and Honors
- Rashid Khan was awarded the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
- In 2010, he received the Global Indian Music Academy Award (GIMA).
- In 2012, he was the recipient of the Banga Bhushan and Maha Sangeet Samman awards.
- In 2013, Rashid Khan was honored with the Mirchi Music Awards for his contribution to the field of music.
- In 2022, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan.
Rashid Khan receiving Padma Bhushan from former President of India Ram Nath Kovind
Death
Rashid Khan died on 9 January 2024 in a private hospital in Kolkata. He was battling cancer for a long time. It started with prostate cancer and he sought medical help at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. Later, he chose to receive specialized treatment in Kolkata. Initially the treatment seemed effective, but in December 2023 his health deteriorated. He was admitted to a private hospital, put on a ventilator for oxygen support and died at the age of 55.
Facts/General Knowledge
- He earned the name Ustad Rashid Khan.
- Rashid Khan followed a non-vegetarian diet.
- Her last song was “Chanda Se Chhup Ke” from the movie “Goldfish” in 2023.
Poster of the film ‘Goldfish’ (2023)
- According to Rashid Khan, he achieved what his mother had dreamed of for him. To pay tribute to that dream, his wife Soma Khan established the Shekri Begum Memorial Trust in Kolkata. At first, the Trust arranged concerts, but later it started teaching musicians. The teaching team of Rashid Khan Academy, with branches in Agartala and Krishna Nagar, consists of accomplished musicians from the Sangeet Research Academy (SRA).
A photograph of Shekri Begum Memorial Trust in Kolkata
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn