Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan passed away on Tuesday, January 9. He was reportedly admitted at a hospital in Kolkata and was battling prostate cancer for a long time. He was 55. West Bengal Chief Minister mourned the loss of Rashid Khan and said, “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.” She further shared that Khan will be given a gun salute and state honours before his last rites on Wednesday. “His body will be kept at a mortuary today. It will be taken to Rabindra Sadan on Wednesday where his admirers can pay him last respects,” the Chief Minister added.
Rashid Khan, the great-grandson of the renowned Indian classical vocalist Inayat Hussain Khan, hailed from the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, a prominent Hindustani music tradition recognised for its robust vocal performances, expertise in rhythm play, and proficiency in medium-slow tempos.
Making his debut at just 11 years old in 1978, Rashid Khan showcased his musical prowess early on. A virtuoso, he excelled in the Tarana School of music and later ventured into fusion music, often performing alongside Louise Banks.
Alongside his instrumental career, the virtuoso enjoyed a successful stint in playback singing, contributing memorable tracks like Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna (from Jab We Met), Allah Hi Rahem (My Name Is Khan) and Deewana Kar Raha Hai (Raaz 3).
Rashid Khan received the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. In 2022, he was further honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award, for his lifelong dedication to the field of art.
The maestro’s health took a downturn following a cerebral attack in December 2023. Initially hospitalised at the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital In Kolkata, he was later moved to another medical facility in Kolkata.
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