Ustad Alladiya Khan
Encyclopedia
Alladiya Khan (1855–1946) was an India
n classical singer, known as "Gaan Samraat" (Emperor of Music). Khan founded the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
based on the Agra gharana
. He is also recognized for his revival and creations of many raga
s.
in a family of musicians. Though his father Ahmed Khan died early in Alladiya's life, his uncle, Jehangir Khan (of the Agra gharana
), taught him dhrupad
for 5 years and then khyal
for another 8 years.
, and creativity of singing the raga
. Later he settled down in Kolhapur as the court musician of the local king, Shahu Maharaj
. In 1922 he moved to Mumbai
after the king died. With his distinguished reputation, Ustad Alladiya Khan became a gem among the many masters in Mumbai. He taught many disciples and sung in many mehfils in Mumbai to which his reputation as an academic grew.
His autobiography, as narrated to his grandson Azizzudin Khan Sahab, is available in English translation, as My Life, translated with and introduction by Amlan Dasgupta and Urmila Bhirdikar, published by Thema, Kolkata, 2000
, Savani Kalyan, and many more.
Many of these Raags were originally created and sung by the Havelis in northern Rajasthan
, where Khansahab grew up. Hearing the Haveli sangeet Khansahab took many of the Raag-based Bhajans (either taking the Raag
or Bhajan
) and created Raags and Bandish
es with them. One of the Raags he resurrected was Raag Basanti Kanada. Few of the many Haveli sangeet dhrupads which he made into bandishes were the famous Raag Nayaki Kanada Bandish
"Mero Piya Rasiya" and Bihagda Bandish
"Ye Pyaari pag hole".
and Ustad Bhurji Khansahab
. Khansahab's brother helped grow the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
after Khansahab's demise. Ustad Manji Khan
, the first son, died early in 1937, so it was Ustad Bhurji Khan
, the youngest son, who passed on the Gayaki of his father to others worthy of it. Mallikarjun Mansur,Appasaheb Deshpande are among noted deciples of Bhurji Khan.
Apart from family, Khansahab's initial disciples were Sarangiya Ustad Abdul Majid Khan, Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
, Govind rao shaligram and Wamanrao Sadolikar
,dhondutai kulkarni and in succeeding generation came proteges like, Mallikarjun Mansur
and Padmavati Shaligram
In Mumbai
, Alladiya Khan saheb's prime disciples were Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar
and Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik.
In 2007, the story of 'Ustad Alladiya Khan', and his noted disciple, Kesarbai Kerkar, was the subject of Namita Devidayal's acclaimed debut book, The Music Room.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n classical singer, known as "Gaan Samraat" (Emperor of Music). Khan founded the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
The Jaipur-Atrauli gharana is a Khayal-based stylized singing family-hood , founded by Utd. Alladiya Khan in the late 19th century...
based on the Agra gharana
Agra gharana
Agra Gharana is a tradition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music descended from the Nauhar Bani. So far, Nauhar Bani has been traced back to around 1300 AD, during the reign of Emperor Allauddin Khilji of Delhi....
. He is also recognized for his revival and creations of many raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
s.
Early life and background
Alladiya Khan was born in RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
in a family of musicians. Though his father Ahmed Khan died early in Alladiya's life, his uncle, Jehangir Khan (of the Agra gharana
Agra gharana
Agra Gharana is a tradition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music descended from the Nauhar Bani. So far, Nauhar Bani has been traced back to around 1300 AD, during the reign of Emperor Allauddin Khilji of Delhi....
), taught him dhrupad
Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition. Its name is derived from the words "dhruva" and "pada"...
for 5 years and then khyal
Khyal
Khyal is the modern genre of classical singing in North India. Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "imagination". It is thought to have developed out of the qawwali singing style. It appeared more recently than dhrupad, is a more free and flexible form, and it provides greater scope for...
for another 8 years.
Singing career
Alladiya Khan served in the court of various kings of Rajasthan including that of Amlata. He sung so well and so much for the kings that he nearly lost his voice due to hours of riyaaz (practice). While trying to regain his voice he developed a new and profound style of singing by which he could sing without compromising the purity of raga but the passage, taansTaan (music)
Taan is a virtuoso technique used in the vocal performance of a raga in Hindustani classical music. It involves the singing of very rapid melodic passages using vowels, often the long "a" as in the word "far", and it targets at improvising and to expand weaving together the notes in a fast tempo...
, and creativity of singing the raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
. Later he settled down in Kolhapur as the court musician of the local king, Shahu Maharaj
Shahu Maharaj
Shahu IV was the first Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Kolhapur between 1894 and 1922...
. In 1922 he moved to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
after the king died. With his distinguished reputation, Ustad Alladiya Khan became a gem among the many masters in Mumbai. He taught many disciples and sung in many mehfils in Mumbai to which his reputation as an academic grew.
His autobiography, as narrated to his grandson Azizzudin Khan Sahab, is available in English translation, as My Life, translated with and introduction by Amlan Dasgupta and Urmila Bhirdikar, published by Thema, Kolkata, 2000
Repertoire
Alladiya Khan was acknowledged for his creation and resurrection of many complex Raags such as Nat Kamod, Bhoop Nat, Kaunsi Kanada, Sampoorna Malkauns, Basanti Kedar, Shuddha Nat, MalaviMalavi
Malavi is a village in Belgaum district in the southwestern state of Karnataka, India.-References:...
, Savani Kalyan, and many more.
Many of these Raags were originally created and sung by the Havelis in northern Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, where Khansahab grew up. Hearing the Haveli sangeet Khansahab took many of the Raag-based Bhajans (either taking the Raag
Raag
Raag or RAAG can have several meanings:* Radio Amateur Association of Greece* Rāga, a melodic mode in Indian classic music* Right-angled Artin groups, a class of groups studied in geometric group theory....
or Bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
) and created Raags and Bandish
Bandish
Bandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
es with them. One of the Raags he resurrected was Raag Basanti Kanada. Few of the many Haveli sangeet dhrupads which he made into bandishes were the famous Raag Nayaki Kanada Bandish
Bandish
Bandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
"Mero Piya Rasiya" and Bihagda Bandish
Bandish
Bandish, Cheez or Gat is a fixed, melodic composition in Hindustani vocal or instrumental music. It is set in a specific raga, performed with rhythmic accompaniment by a tabla or pakhavaj, a steady drone, and melodic accompaniment by a sarangi, violin or harmonium. There are different ways of...
"Ye Pyaari pag hole".
Students
Khansahab's most principle disciples were his younger brother, Ustad Haider Khan and his own sons, Ustad Manji KhansahabManji Khan
Ustad Badruddin "Manji" Khan was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his father, Utd. Alladiya Khan.-Early life:...
and Ustad Bhurji Khansahab
Bhurji Khan
Ustad Shamsuddin "Bhurji" Khan was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his father, Utd. Alladiya Khan.-Early life:...
. Khansahab's brother helped grow the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
The Jaipur-Atrauli gharana is a Khayal-based stylized singing family-hood , founded by Utd. Alladiya Khan in the late 19th century...
after Khansahab's demise. Ustad Manji Khan
Manji Khan
Ustad Badruddin "Manji" Khan was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his father, Utd. Alladiya Khan.-Early life:...
, the first son, died early in 1937, so it was Ustad Bhurji Khan
Bhurji Khan
Ustad Shamsuddin "Bhurji" Khan was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his father, Utd. Alladiya Khan.-Early life:...
, the youngest son, who passed on the Gayaki of his father to others worthy of it. Mallikarjun Mansur,Appasaheb Deshpande are among noted deciples of Bhurji Khan.
Apart from family, Khansahab's initial disciples were Sarangiya Ustad Abdul Majid Khan, Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.-Education:...
, Govind rao shaligram and Wamanrao Sadolikar
Wamanrao Sadolikar
Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his guru, Utd. Alladiya Khan.-Early life:...
,dhondutai kulkarni and in succeeding generation came proteges like, Mallikarjun Mansur
Mallikarjun Mansur
Mallikarjun Bheemarayappa Mansur was an Indian classical singer of the khyal style in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. He received the three national Padma Awards: Padma Shri in 1970, Padma Bhushan in 1976, and Padma Vibhushan in 1992.-Early life:...
and Padmavati Shaligram
In Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Alladiya Khan saheb's prime disciples were Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar
Mogubai Kurdikar
Mogubai Kurdikar was a renowned Hindustani classical music vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.-Early years and background:...
and Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik.
Legacy
The Annual Ustad Alladiya Khan Music Festival is celebrated in Mumbai each year, where several singers and musicians perform, giving homage to Khan. In 2005, the 150th birth anniversary of the musical legend was celebrated.In 2007, the story of 'Ustad Alladiya Khan', and his noted disciple, Kesarbai Kerkar, was the subject of Namita Devidayal's acclaimed debut book, The Music Room.
Further reading
- Khansahab Alladiya Khan, (as told to his grandson Azizuddin Khan). Translated and introduced by Amlan Dasgupta and Urmila Bhirdikar. Thema, 2000. ISBN 81-86017-33-X.
- Alladiya Khan Between Two Tanpuras, by Vamana Hari Deshpande, Popular Prakashan, 1989. ISBN 0861322266, 9780861322268. page 40.