One of India's leading Hindustani music vocalists, Ustad Rashid Khan, left for his heavenly abode on 9th January 2024, leaving all his admirers and listeners shocked, at the age of 55, after battling with prostate cancer for a year in Kolkata.

Last year on 22^nd November, Ustad Rashid was admitted to the hospital as he suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage. Due to his long stay in the hospital, he acquired infection that spread rapidly and he breathed his last at 3.45pm on 9th January.  He was in ICU for about a month. He is survived by his wife Soma Khan and two children. He was kept at the Rabindra Sadan for the last darshan of his several admirers and disciples and was accorded complete state honours with gun salute. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told the Press "It is unfortunate he died just at the age of 55, a great loss for the nation and for all of us. He was like my brother, he used to call me mother".

Ustad Shujaat Khan said "He came, enthralled generations with his singing and then just got up and left". Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said "Ustad Rashid Khan was a legendary figure in the world of Indian classical music. His unparallel talent and dedication to music enriched our cultural world and inspired generations. His passing leaves a void that will be hard to fill”. On his birth anniversary on 1^st July we remember him fondly.

Ustad Rashid Khan was the son of Hamiz Reza Khan and was born in Badayun (UP) on1st July 1968. He was the great grandson of Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, founder of Rampur -Sahaswan Gharana of Hindustani classical music, closely related to the Gwalior Gharana, noteworthy for its medium slow paced tempos, sung with full throated voice and intricate rhythmic play. As a young boy Rashid received rigorous training from his maternal grand uncle Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan and was asked to repeat a note pattern all day long, until he got it perfectly,  the consistent hours of practice, disturbed and irritated Rashid as he was a rebellious and fun loving child. The turning point in his life was, at the time when he was enrolled as a music student, during his late teen days, at the famous ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.

His contemporary singer, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande who first listened him in 2000, said "His exquisite exposition of Raag (melody) Jog - a night melody, did not leave me for three days, constantly ringing in my ears. His music elevated people's spirit and soothed their soul. There are many who play to the gallery by displaying histrionics. Rashid singing had an emotional depth, that is hard to find". Rashid's music transcended all boundaries with his throw of voice, slow tempo melodic variations with a strong emotive emphasis became the insignia of his performance, borrowed and inspired by great singers like Ustad Amir Khan and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

A rare praise from Pandit Bhimsen Joshi "Future of north Indian classical music rested soulful in Rashid singing." Rashid became quite a sensation at a young age, receiving public adulation. He was extremely busy with almost twenty concerts in a month, which was really remarkable for a young musician. He was a traditionalist with a modernist approach that appealed to different generation of listeners.

His "Khayal", Bilas Khani Todi, rendering and his Bollywood numbers like Aaogi Jab Tum from the film "Jab We Met" featuring Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor, Angana Phool Khelenge (feeling of first love), Tu Milta Hai Mujhe (best of Raj Barman), Dhadkanein Meri (Zee Music) etc aggravated his popularity as a versatile singer.

Ustad Rashid received the highest civilian award from the West Bengal government known as "Banga Bibhushan" and Sangeet Maha Samman  Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhusahn 2022.

Veteran music critic and musician Amarendra Nandu Dhaneshwar said, "Ustad Rashid Khan who died prematurely in January 2024 was a topnotch Hindustani music vocalist. He rose to great heights solely because of his caliber and incredible hard work Picked up by the ITC sponsored Sangeet Research Academy as student scholar, he attracted instant attention from connoisseurs and rasikas, thanks to his deep and resonant voice which was overpowering and which radiated shades of emotion He won nationwide acclaim when he was in his twenties and never looked back. He was the numero uno singer of the post Bhimsen Joshi generation He was trained by his maternal grandfather Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan. He also absorbed the gayaki of greats like Amir Khan sahib and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan sahib. He achieved phenomenal success during his lifetime"...

By Guru Vijay Shanker

Guru Vijay Shanker is a professional Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Bharata Natyam exponent, dance teacher, choreographer, actor and eminent arts critic for over four decades based in Mumbai. He can be contacted on email: vijaydance@gmail.com