Rashid Khan (1968-2024) was a famous Indian classical musician specializing in Hindustani music. He belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan tribe and is the great-grandson of the founder of the tribe, Inayat Hussain Khan. Pandit Bhimson Joshi once said that Rashid Khan is 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 Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri, the third highest civilian award in India.
Wiki/Biography
Rashid Khan was born on Monday, July 1, 1968 in Sahaswan, Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was 55 years old at the time of his death. His zodiac sign is Cancer. He had no formal education. Rashid Khan’s mother, Shahri Begham, was born into a musical family in Badang, Uttar Pradesh. Her uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, was a highly respected figure among the Sahaswan tribe. Shakhri Begham dreamed of raising her two sons to become famous musicians like her uncle. However, she was devastated after losing her youngest son. Shakhri Begham died when Rashid Khan was four years old.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father, Hamiz Reza Khan, was a Sufi singer.
Young Rashid Khan and his family
His mother’s name is Shahri Begum.
wife and children
Although Rashid Khan had no formal education, he admired beautiful educated women and wanted to marry a woman regardless of caste or creed. He met Joyeta (Soma) Basu, a Bengali girl from Guwahati, at a wedding reception and soon they decided to get married. Their lengthy phone calls worried Rashid’s stern grandfather, who objected to the decision. However, at the age of 23, Rashid made up his mind to marry Soma with the support of his uncle Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan. On December 2, 1991, he married Joyeeta (Soma) Basu Khan. Rashid Khan once said in an interview with the media that he and Soma belong to different religions. He said,
Meeting my wife was the best moment of my life. Our love stories are completely different. Our religious beliefs are different. “
Rashid Khan and Soma Basu on their wedding day
She works as Managing Director at “Rashid Khan Sangeet Academy”, Kolkata.
Rashid Khan and his wife Soma Khan
His son Armaan Khan is a musician.
Rashid Khan and his son Aman Khan
He has two daughters, Suha Khan (Sufi singer) and Shaona Khan (singer).
Rashid Khan and his daughters
Rashid Khan’s musical journey
After his mother died in 1972, his father and aunt took care of him. He enjoys playing kabaddi and cricket. Although neighbors knew he was good at singing and had a good memory for music, it was difficult to get him interested because he loved sports so much. His father has a hard time controlling the mischievous and stubborn six-year-old Rashid. Later, his father took him to Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. He is a musician and the stern elder of the family. Rashid was afraid of him.
Rashid Khan childhood photos
Once, during a media conversation, he stated that he was not interested in music as a child. But later, as he grew older, his uncle Ghulam Mustafa Khan discovered that he was good at it. He taught him for some time in Bombay. However, he received formal music lessons from Nisar Hussain Khan at Nisar’s home in Badayun. Rashid Khan’s music teacher Nisar Hussain Khan was known for his strict teaching methods. He would start vocal training at 4 a.m., letting Rasheed practice individual notes of the scale for hours. As a child, Rashid did not enjoy these classes, but the discipline they instilled helped him excel in Taan and Leyakari.
teenage rashid khan
Rashid Khan held his first concert at the age of 11. In 1978, he performed at the ITC concert in Delhi and subsequently joined the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) in Kolkata at the age of 14 with his teacher Nissar Hussain Khan. Rashid Khan’s singing style is based on Rampur-Sahaswan’s singing style and is closely related to the Gwalior tradition. This style involves singing at a medium to slow tempo, using a high-pitched voice, and playing complex rhythms. Rashid Khan followed in the footsteps of his great uncle and incorporated slow and detailed singing into his performance. He is also skilled in Sargams and Sargam taankari, which involves playing scales. Rashid Khan was influenced by the singing styles of Aamir Khan and Bhimsen Joshi.
Rashid Khan in 1992
music album
In 1991, he released his first music album “Raga Bageshri/Desh”. In 1993, he released the album “Rashid Khan Live In Concert”. In 1994, Rashid officially became a recognized musician of the Academy. Subsequently, he released many music albums and songs such as Rashid Khan – Ustad Rashid Khan (1995), Kayal (1996), The Genius of Rashid Khan ( 2000), Voice India (2002), Morning Mantra (2003), Masterpiece Ustad Rashid Khan (2006), Kabir (2009), Baithaki Rabi – Ustad Rashid Khan (2012), Indian Classical Miracles (2015), Krishna – Ustad Rashid Khan (2013), etc.
Poster for the music album The Genius of Rashid Khan (2000)
Rashid Khan’s musical innovations
Rashid Khan was a famous musician who mastered tarana (a musical composition) like his music teacher Nissar Hussain. However, he is known for his preference for the Kayal style over the stroke-based instrumental style of his teacher. Rather than imitating the sound of an instrument, Rashid put his own style into the music. During his live performances, Rashid Khan is known for the emotional depth of his melodic expositions. He believed in expressing emotions through different parts of a performance. This includes singing alaap while singing bandish or conveying the meaning of the lyrics. His style is more modern compared to the older masters who focused more on impressive technique and skilled execution.
Rashid Khan plays sitar
movie songs
He made his Bollywood debut in 2004 with the song “Tore Bina Mohe Chain Nahi” in the Bollywood film “Kisna: The Warrior Poet”. In 2007, Rashid Khan dubbed for the song “Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna” in the movie “Jab”. We met. He subsequently sang many songs in Bollywood films such as “Bhor Bhayo” in the 2009 film Morning Walk, “Poore se Zara sa” in the 2011 film Mausam, “Raaz 3 (2012)” Dewaana Kar Rha Hai”, “Kabhi Ayien Pe” Hate Story 2 (2014), “Tu Banja” in the 2017 film “Shaadi Mein” Gali” Zaroor Aana, “Milon Ke Fasle” in the 2018 movie “Ishqeria”, “Marwa” in the 2022 movie Me Vasantrao.
Poster of the song “Tu Banja Gali” from the 2017 movie “Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana”
Rashid Khan’s musical fusion
Rashid Khan has attempted to fuse traditional Hindustani music with light music genres such as the Sufi fusion record Naina Piya Se (a song by Aamir Khusro) and collaborations with Western instrumentalist Louis Banks as seen in experimental concerts. He also participated in jugalbandis, musical duels with sitar player Shahid Parvez and others. Rashid Khan’s official website calls him “the 31st generation descendant of Medan Sen”.
Ustad Shahid Parvez performs Ustad Rashid Khan
Awards and Honors
- In 2006, Rashid Khan was awarded the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Academic Award.
- In 2010, he received the Global Indian Music Academy Award (GIMA).
- In 2012, he received the Banga Bhushan and Maha Sangeet Samman Awards.
- In 2013, Rashid Khan was awarded the Mirchi Music Award for his contribution to the field of music.
- In 2022, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri.
Rashid Khan meets Padma Shri of former Indian President Ram Nath Kovind
die
Rashid Khan passed away on January 9, 2024, in a private hospital in Kolkata. He had been battling cancer for a long time. His condition started with prostate cancer and he sought medical help at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. Later, he chose to travel to Kolkata for specialized treatment. Treatment initially seemed to be effective, but in December 2023, his health deteriorated. He was taken to a private hospital, put on a ventilator and given oxygen, and died at the age of 55.
Facts/Trivia
- He earned the name Ustad Rashid Khan.
- Rashid Khan follows a non-vegetarian diet.
- His last song was “Chanda Se Chhup Ke” from the 2023 movie “Goldfish”.
Movie “Goldfish” (2023) poster
- According to Rashid Khan, he achieved what his mother dreamed for him. To commemorate this dream, his wife Soma Khan established the Shakhri Begham Memorial Trust in Kolkata. Initially the trust arranged musical events but later began teaching musicians. Rashid Khan Academy has branches in Agartala and Krishna Nagar and has skilled musicians from Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) in its teaching team.
Photos of Shahri Begum Memorial Trust, Kolkata
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education