Abdul Rashid Khan

Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan Rashid khan is a classical vocalist known for his >> Read More... born on 19th August 1908, was an Indian voice for Indian music. Besides khayal, he makes dhrupad, dharma, and thumri. Abdul Rashid Khan was born into a family of artists who follow back to Behram Khan, former traditional artist Gwalior Gharana Gayaki. He received his first training from his older brother Bade Yusuf Khan and his father Chote Yusuf Khan. This was followed by extensive music training from his family elders such as Chand Khan, Barkhudar Khan, and Mahtab Khan who taught him Gwalior Gayaki. He also developed a style that suited his artistic sensitivity. He was a descendant of Tansen, a famous musician who was one of the nine treasures in the court of Akbar the Great in the mid-sixteenth century.

Abdul Rashid Khan's traditional songs were recorded by the BBC and Iraq Radio. Organizations such as Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, Lucknow, and the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. He has been admired by critics, fellow artists, and many well-known institutions such as Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy in 1981, Banaras Hindu University in 1993, Eastern Zone Cultural Center, and Press Club Kolkata. Abdul Rashid Khan composed more than 2000 songs. He was a prolific writer and poet under the pseudonym "Rasan Piya". Many of the songs (bandish) he sang were his creations. He trained some students during his lifetime and was considered a “champion” at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Abdul Rashid Khan passed away at the age of 107, on February 18, 2016.

In addition to being a great musician, he was a devout and active Muslim and used to recite his prayers and recite the Quran every morning. Some of his achievements are the ITC Sangeet Research Academy Award in 1994, Sangeet Natak, Akademi Award in 2009, Kashi Swar Ganga Award in 2003, Ras Sagar (title) Award in 2004, Bhuwalka Award in 2010, Padma Bhushan in 2013 - the oldest person to ever receive the Padma Award, The Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 by the NCT Government of Delhi. He was awarded numerous titles by respected organizations including the title "Banga Bibhushan" in 2015 by the West Bengal government.

Trained at Gwalior Gharana of Hindustani music, he excelled in the lands of Khayal, Dhrupad, Dhamar, and Thumri. In 2013, he discovered the difference between being the oldest person to receive the Padma award. Also a poet, Khan has written about 2,000 songs under the pseudonym ‘Rasan Piya’. Born Chhote Yusuf Khan, he represented the 16th generation of Miyan Tansen. Comforting his death, Prime Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "It is with great sadness that the death of veteran voice leader Padma Bhushan Abdul Rashid Khan. India has lost much of its global value in music. ”