Ustad Mohammad Hashem Cheshti
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Hashem Cheshti, also known with surname Chishti and as Ustad Hashem , was a contemporary classical musician and composer born in Kharabat
area of Kabul
, Afghanistan
, who died in 1994 in Germany
under unclear circumstances.
Ustad Hashem was born and raised in an extremely musical family, which originally came from Kasur
in Punjab
, but settled in the 19th century in Kabul as court musicians. Several of his close family members, including his brothers and his father are/were also famous musicians in their own right. Both he and his brothers appeared regularly on Afghan Television and Radio prior to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent wars. He accompanied regularly other famous Afghan musicians like Ahmad Zahir
and Ustad Mahwash
on his tabla.
He was the teacher and mentor of Ustad Mahwash
, the first Afghan female master musician and Zuleikha, a US American dancer and artist. He mastered many different traditional Afghan instruments, but his greatest passion was for the tabla
, his mastership of which was supreme. Following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan
he had to flee his home country and emigrated to Germany where he died in 1994, killed by one of his former students for reasons unknown.
Kharabat
Kharabat may refer to:* Kharabat , an old district of Kabul Afghanistan close by to "Hinduguzar" * Kharabat , a literature term of Persian literature or Dari, historical term, since 1964 in Afghanistan official term for Persian language* Kharabat , Cities in Yemen* Kharabat , intotion [Khorabad]...
area of Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, who died in 1994 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
under unclear circumstances.
Ustad Hashem was born and raised in an extremely musical family, which originally came from Kasur
Kasur
Kasur , the capital of Kasur District in Pakistan. Kasur is located adjacent to the border of Ganda Singh Wala between Pakistan and India, and is a tourist attraction because of the daily occurring Flags lowering ceremony...
in Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, but settled in the 19th century in Kabul as court musicians. Several of his close family members, including his brothers and his father are/were also famous musicians in their own right. Both he and his brothers appeared regularly on Afghan Television and Radio prior to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent wars. He accompanied regularly other famous Afghan musicians like Ahmad Zahir
Ahmad Zahir
Ahmad Zahir was a singer, songwriter, and composer from Afghanistan. He is considered an icon of Afghan music and is sometimes called the "King of Afghan music"...
and Ustad Mahwash
Mahwash
Ustad Mahwash commonly referred to as Ustad Mahwash is a popular Afghan singer. She was the first woman to have been conferred the honorary title of “Ustad”...
on his tabla.
He was the teacher and mentor of Ustad Mahwash
Mahwash
Ustad Mahwash commonly referred to as Ustad Mahwash is a popular Afghan singer. She was the first woman to have been conferred the honorary title of “Ustad”...
, the first Afghan female master musician and Zuleikha, a US American dancer and artist. He mastered many different traditional Afghan instruments, but his greatest passion was for the tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
, his mastership of which was supreme. Following the Russian invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
he had to flee his home country and emigrated to Germany where he died in 1994, killed by one of his former students for reasons unknown.