Ustad Rashid Khan, the revered maestro who brought the beauty of Hindustani classical music to a vast audience, passed away on Tuesday at a Kolkata hospital after a courageous four-year battle with prostate cancer. The iconic classical singer, aged 55, leaves behind his wife, two sons, and a daughter.
Belonging to the esteemed Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, Khan was the great-grandson of the Gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan. Despite dedicated efforts, he succumbed to his illness around 3:45 PM, as confirmed by a hospital official.
Khan, a cultural icon, had made West Bengal his home since 1980 when he moved with his family from Uttar Pradesh's Badaun at the age of 10. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow, emphasizing the personal bond she shared with the maestro. Khan's demise is a significant loss to the country and the music fraternity, she remarked, announcing that he would be accorded a gun salute and state honors at Rabindra Sadan, the state-run cultural complex.
The legendary musician had been on ventilator support, and his health deteriorated further after suffering a stroke last month. Undergoing cancer treatment since 2019, Khan's prolonged hospital stay led to complications.
As news of his passing cast a pall over the music world, lyricist Prasoon Joshi described Khan as a legend and "a voice through which the divine spoke to us." Music director Pritam expressed the immense loss to the world of music, while veteran Bengali singer Haimanti Shukla fondly recalled their shared musical journeys. Young Bengali singer Suvamita considered Khan a father figure, and national award recipient singer Iman Chakraborty expressed disbelief, saying, "I cannot imagine Ustadji is no more. This is not the age to die. He had such a mellifluous voice!" The departure of Ustad Rashid Khan marks the end of an era, leaving an indelible void in the world of classical music.
(With Agency Inputs)
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