In a somber moment for the music fraternity, the renowned music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, aged 55, breathed his last after an extended struggle with prostate cancer. Khan, who was undergoing treatment at a Kolkata hospital, succumbed to the illness while on a ventilator with oxygen support.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow, stating, “This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can’t believe that Rashid Khan is no more.”
The artist’s health took a critical turn following a cerebral attack last month. Initially treated at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Khan later chose to continue his treatment exclusively in Kolkata. Despite positive initial responses to the treatment, the musician’s condition deteriorated.
Born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, Rashid Khan, the nephew of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, received his initial training from his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan (1909–1993). Recognized for his musical talents at an early age, Khan’s uncle, Ghulam Mustafa Khan, provided initial training in Mumbai. However, the primary training came from Nissar Hussain Khan, initially at his residence in Badayun.
At the age of eleven, Khan marked his debut concert, and in 1978, he graced the stage at an ITC concert in Delhi. Transitioning to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Calcutta in 1980, Khan showcased his versatility by blending classical Hindustani music with lighter genres, engaging in experimental collaborations, and participating in jugalbandis with renowned musicians.
The music fraternity mourns the loss of a maestro whose contributions enriched the world of Hindustani classical music.
