O.P. Sharma
Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a maestro classical musician, who passed away on April 23, 1968 at Hyderabad has left an inimitable legacy of his singing style. He is still remembered and adorned by thousands of listeners of his unique songs.
By his long singing during 1920-1967, this great musician not only regaled the audience by his matchless singing but also united them with his soulful singing.
Bade Ghulam Ali was born in Kasur, village of Punjab (now in Pakistan) in a family of musical heritage. His father Ali Baksh Khan was famous singer. At the tender age of seven, he learned Sarangi and vocal from his paternal uncle Kale Khan, who was also a noted singer and after his death Bade Ghulam Ali got training under his father.
Khan started his career by playing Sarangi and became popular after his debut music concert in Kolkata. It is a unique feature that Bade Ghulam Ali Khan amalgamated the best of four traditions: his own Patiala-Kasur style, the Behram Khani elements of Dhrupad, the gyrations of Jaipur and the behlavas (embellishments) of Gwalior. His voice had a wide range, spanning three octaves, effortless production, sweetness, flexibility and ease of movement.
After the Partition in 1947, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan went to his home in Pakistan. But he did not approve of the Partition and stated: If in every home one child was taught Hindustani classical music this country would never have been partitioned." Subsequently, he returned and permanently settled in India. In 1957, he acquired Indian citizenship and lived at various times in Lahore, Mumbai, Calcutta and Hyderabad pursuing his illustrious music career and gained heights of glory and popularity.
The Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Yaadgar Sabha, founded by his disciple Malti Gilani, keeps his music and memory alive. This organization is devoted to promote Hindustani classical music by organizing a number of music concerts across the country. The Sabha's another primary aim is to also provide medical aid to ailing musicians and organize a Sabrang Utsav every year in the memory of the Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. It is noteworthy that under his pen name. Sabrang, Khan has left numerous compositions.
He was reluctant to sing for films, but sang two songs based on ragas: Sohni and Rageshree for the 1960 film Mughal-e-Azam, in which his voice was represented as Tansen's by the music director Naushad.
Khan was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1962.
Khan's son, Munawar Ali Khan (1930-1989), was also classical singer while his grandson, Raza Ali Khan, is also a Hindustani classical singer.
Bade Ghulam Ali Khan died in Hyderabad at Basheerbagh Palace in 1968, after a prolonged illness which left him partially paralyzed in his last years. He continued to sing and perform in public with the support of his son Munawar. He belonged to the Patiala Gharana of Hindustani classical music and is considered to be an important representative of the Hindustani music tradition.
(Starline Syndicate Service) |
