Hindustani vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan at the Barkha Ritu Rains & Ragas concert organised by Banyan Tree Events at Chowdaiah Hall in Bangalore on July 28, 2007. | Photo courtesy: Bhagya Prakash/The Hindu
In January this year, Begum Akhtar’s youngest disciple, Hindustani semi-classical singer Rekha Surya, paid tribute to Rashid Khan, recalling their two-year stint at the Sangeet Research Academy (SRA), where they were batchmates, scholarship holders and budding artists. “Even as students, the senior gurus at SRA regarded Rashid as an ustaad. ‘Who are we to judge him, Rashid is our equal, not less than us,’ they once remarked in their weekly assessment,” Rekha recalls.
Samarthanam Trust for the differently-abled, in collaboration with the Academy of Music, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, will pay a musical tribute titled Barsega Sawan on June 14 in memory of Ustad Rashid Khan, who passed away suddenly at the age of 55, leaving the world of Indian classical music stunned. A panel discussion on Rashid Khan’s tunes will be followed by a programme. Jugalbandi Musicians Suma Sudhindra and Ustad Shafique Khan will perform on veena and sitar, while singers Iman Das and Vaishali Shrinivas will perform monsoon favourites of the late Hindustani guru melody.
Ustad Rashid Khan was the great-grandson of Inayat Hussain Khan, the founder of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. Rashid was born in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, but moved to Kolkata with his family in 1980 when he was about 10 years old.
Vaishali Srinivas | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Hindustani singer and Omkar Music Academy founder Iman Das, who has been closely associated with Rashid Khan over the years and is part of the Barsega Sawan tribute concert, says, “Whether it is his solo or duets with legends like Pandit Bhimsen Joshi or his stylistic presentation Thumri, Ghazal And HymnRashid Khan created him straight from his heart. He was an accomplished singer and his Singing It was a mixture of Ustad Amir Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and Hussain Khan.
“Apart from his innate Rampur-Sahaswan gharana style, he also blended in the Kirana gharana. His fluidity TansCalm Conversation His passion and entrepreneurship in singing in films shows that he had no shortage of anything in music.‘When will you come my love’ From When we met, He became a superhit with his voice.”
heart touching presentation
The time of the year for the tribute concert is well thought out. “Rashid’s inclination towards monsoon ragas is well known and Raga Desh Was“This song is very close to his heart,” says Iman. “That’s why we chose the title ‘Barsega Sawan’ for the programme. Music composer Sandesh Shandilya is still grateful that the maestro agreed to sing this song.”
Iman Das | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Elaborating on the scale of the monsoon, Iman described the diversity and subtle variations of the monsoon. Malhar Raga and said that these scales are filled with metaphors for different emotions. “The program will also include Kajria mild form of yoursIt is said to be a part of Varsha Arpana. There will be a special performance in the opening song by Anusha Manjunath of Samarthanam, who is my student. Restriction Rashid has made it popular. Anusha will also sing at the Para-Olympics in Paris this September.”
Author, columnist and singer Vaishali Shrinivas, who is joint secretary of the Sangeet Academy Chowdiah Memorial Hall, says Rashid Khan’s music has been part of her regular playlist for a long time. “I would like to describe this event as an elegy to the maestro. The untimely demise of one of the giants of Hindustani music thought The music world has suffered a great loss. Almost all the artists of Indian classical music are deeply impressed by Rashid’s unique talent. Singing and their lyricism Care It will always bother me.”
Vaishali had the privilege of interacting with Rashid a few years ago when he was honoured with the KK Murthy Chowdiah National Award at the Academy’s annual music festival. “When I was interacting with Rashid, I was mesmerised by his simplicity and affability. When he learnt that I am a Hindustani classical singer, he said, “Hey! You can also give me some suggestions regarding my request(You can also tell me about people’s requests for music). I was amazed by his humility and friendliness,” says Vaishali.
Rashid Khan Chowdhury receiving the National Award | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
She adds, “On a few occasions since then I have covered Rashid’s concerts as a freelance music columnist and enjoyed many memorable conversations with him. We discussed how one can take his music forward Raga Bhaavthe bright emotional insights that can slip into it, the sensitive treatment Restrictions – Those things left an indelible impression on my mind.’
Vaishali says she was keen to pay a musical tribute to Rashid. “With the support of Mahantesh and Iman Das of Smartanam, we were able to conceptualise Barsega Sawan.”
Other artists performing at the event include Pandit Rajendra Nakod on tabla, Surya Upadhyay on harmonium, mridangamist BC Manjunath and SN Narayana Murthy. decreasedIn collaboration with Brigade Foundation.
To pay tribute to Rashid Khan, Barsega Sawan will be organised on June 14 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall from 5.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Entry is free.
