Ustad Rashid Khan, a gem of Hindustani Classical music industry, a stalwart, prominent personality of Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana passed away at the age of 55 on Tuesday, 9th January, 2024 in the afternoon. Ustad Rashid Khan was fighting prostate cancer and undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata since November 22.
Ustad Rashid Khan had been on ventilation receiving oxygen support and following a cerebral attack the last month his health condition had decreased which made his life saving battle more challenging.
Despite his medical team’s best efforts from around 3:45 pm, his condition succumbed to the illness according to the hospital authority’s statement.
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Image Source: Hindusthan
About Ustad Rashid Khan:
Ustad Rashid Khan was a great-grandson of founder of gharana Inayat Hussain Khan. Some people said impressed by this musical talent, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi entitled him as the “assurance for the future of Indian vocal music”. Khan was born on 1 July 1968, in Sahaswan, Badaun, Uttar Pradesh. Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan,his maternal grand-uncle initially trained him for Classical music.
Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, his uncle, was the first who noticed his interest in music and sent him to Mumbai for further training. Belonging to a musical background, from his childhood he showed his interest in music as well. Though he did his main training from Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan in his house of Badaun. He strictly trained Rashid Khan in Vocal treatment and he taught him notes from hours, which helped Rashid Khan in mastery of taan and layakaari later time. Soma Khan was his wife.
Ustad Rashid Khan Musical career:
Rampur-Sahaswan gayaki, related to Gwalior gharana was the key point of this singing. He was influenced by Bhimsen Joshi and Amir Khan. However he is also a master of Tarana but he always sang in his own style. He sang in several Bollywood movies as a playback singer, such as “Kahe Ujadi Mori Neend” and “Tore Bina Mohe Chain Nahi” from the film Kisna: The Warrior Poet, 2004.
In Shahid Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor’s film Jab We Met, 2007 he sang the song“Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna”.“Manwa” and “Bhor Bhayo” from the film Morning Walk,2009.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol starred in the 2010 film “My Name is Khan” . He sang the song “Allah Hi Rahem”.
In the film Mausam, 2011 he sang the song“Poore se zara sa”.
In 2012, he sang in two Bollywood films “Chakravyuh” and “Raaz 3” “Aiyo Piyaji” and “Deewana Kar Raha Hai” and one bengali film Bapi Bari Ja “Sajna”.
The last song he sang in a Bollywood film was “Chanda Se Chhup ke” from the film Goldfish of 2023.
Award:
In 2006, Ustad Rashid Khan received the Padma Shri award. He won Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. Khan won Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) in 2010. In 2012, Khan received the Banga Bhushan award and Maha Sangeet Samman Award. He won the Mirchi Music award in 2013. He received the Padma Bhushan Award in 2022.
Image Source: Gulfnews
Celebrities Mourn and experience sorrow in Ustad Rashid Khan’s demise:
West Bengal chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her deep sorrow. She visited the Hospital and said it is a great loss for the entire music industry and the entire country. She also announced that before his last rite, Ustad Rashid Khan would be accorded the state honour and gun salute which was scheduled for Wednesday, 10th January. His mortal remained in mortuary last day and taken to Rabindra Sadan where he was buried. His well-wishers, admirers and close ones pay their last respect to him.
Bollywood Actor Manoj Bajpayee tweeted on X that “Wherever you stay! Stay Happy! Rashid Khan Sahab! Goodbye with a heavy heart”
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan posted a long note expressing his sorrow for the renowned singer and said God blessed his soul and showed deep condolences to his family and loved ones.
Bollywood celebrity singer Rekha Bharadwaj shared a post on Instagram and wrote “The worst day of my life! Devastated! I don’t want to believe it!”
Actress Nimrat Kaur tweeted “ Unbridled, peerless talent gone too soon, Such an indispensable loss to the world music, feel grateful to witness his magical live! Rest in glory.
