Ustad Rashid Khan, aged 55, passed away on Tuesday in a city hospital after bravely fighting cancer for more than four years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and son. An official from the private hospital where Khan was receiving treatment stated, “We did everything we could, but unfortunately, we couldn’t save him. He passed away around 3:45 PM.”
Reflecting on Ustad Rashid Khan’s passing, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed, “This loss is deeply felt by the entire country and the music community. It’s truly agonizing, and I’m still finding it hard to believe that Rashid Khan is no longer with us.”
The musician’s health deteriorated after suffering a cerebral attack last month. Initially seeking treatment at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, the 55-year-old maestro from the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana later chose to exclusively continue treatment in Kolkata. Sources indicate that Khan initially showed encouraging signs of improvement in response to the treatment.
Ustad Rashid Khan, possibly the final living legend of Rampur Sahaswan gayaki (singing style), was acknowledged as the 31st generation descendant of Sangeet Samrat Mian Tansen.
Renowned for his expertise in the ‘Vilambit Khayal’ gayaki, Ustad Rashid Khan enchanted countless enthusiasts of Hindustani vocal classical music for over three decades. Hailing from Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, Ustad Rashid Khan began his musical journey under the tutelage of his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. At the age of 10, in April 1980, he shifted to Kolkata along with his grandfather when Nissar Hussain Khan moved there. Ustad Rashid Khan had his inaugural concert at the tender age of 11, and by 1994, he had already garnered acclaim as a musician. His profound connection with Hindustani classical music began in his early years under the mentorship of his grandparent, Inayat Hussain Khan, shaping his musical journey.
Ustad Rashid Khan’s innovative musical approach, fusing Hindustani vocals with genres like Sufi and collaborating with Western instrumentalist icon Louis Banks, earned him recognition. Alongside his mastery in Hindustani vocals, Rashid Khan displayed his prowess in playback music, lending his talent to hit films including “My Name is Khan,” “Jab We Met,” “Isaaq,” “Manto,” “Mausam,” “Bapi Bari Ja,” “Kadambari,” and “Mitin Masi.” He also participated in ‘jugalbandis,’ captivating audiences with sitar artist Shahid Parvez. Khan’s versatility was highlighted in his Rabindra Sangeet (songs of Rabindranath Tagore) album titled ‘Baithaki Rabi,’ which was released in the mid-2000s. In addition to the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, Ustad Rashid Khan received the esteemed state honor, Bangabhusan, from the West Bengal government in 2012.
