"Gaan Samraat" Ustad Alladiya Khansahab (1855 ? 1946) was one of the most distinguished Indian singers of his time, earning the grand title of "Gaan Samraat" (Emperor of Music). He is recognized as one of pioneers of Hindustani classical music, by evolving his distinct style of music, and thus founding the noted Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana (School of Music) ^[1][2], a Gharana based on the Agra Gharana. Khansahab is also recognized for his revival and creations of many Raags.

Life

Alladiya Khan was born in 1885 to a family of musicians in Rajasthan. Though his father Utd. Ahmet Khan died early in Alladiya's life, his uncle, Utd. Jehangir Khan (of the Agra Gharana), taught him dhrupad for 5 years and then Khayal for another 8 years.

He 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 daily singing. 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, Taans, and creativity of singing the Raag. Later he settled down in Kolhapur as the court musician of the local king, Shahu Maharaj. In 1922 he moved back to Bombay due to the king's demise. 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. He grew wealthy, famous and well respected until his death, at the age of 91, in 1946.

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

Repetoire

Ustad Alladiya Khansahab was acknowledged for his creation and resurrection of many complex Raags such as Nat Kamod, Nat Bilawal, Sampoorna Malkauns, Basanti Kedar, 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 Bandishes 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".

Students

Khansahab's most principle disciples were his younger brother, Ustad Haider Khan and his own sons, Ustad Manji Khansahab 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.

Apart from family, Khansahab's initial disciples were Sarangiya Ustad Abdul Majid Khan, Pandit Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, and Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar, and in succeeding generation came proteges like, Mallikarjun Mansur and Padmavati Shaligram ^[3].

In Mumbai, Alladiya Khan saheb's prime disciples were Smt. Kesarbai Kerkar, "Gaanatapaswini" Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar and Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik.

Legacy

The 'Annual Ustad Alladiya Khan Music Festival' is celebrated in Mumbai each year, where several noted singers and musicians perform giving homage to this maestro of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana ^[4]. In 2005, the 150th birth anniversary of the musical legend was celebrated ^[5].

In 2007, the story of 'Ustad Alladiya Khan', and his noted disciple, Kesarbai Kerkar, was the subject of Nandita Devidayal's acclaimed debut book, The Music Room ^[6].

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.
• Ustad Alladiya Khan Between Two Tanpuras, by Vamana Hari Deshpande, Popular Prakashan, 1989. ISBN 0861322266, 9780861322268. page 40.

References

1. ↑ All Time Great Classical Singers maestroesclassicalsingers.weebly.com.
2. ↑ Where talent matters Times of India, June 26, 2006."Heaven knows how many singers were fortunate to have sat at the feet of Ustad Alladiya Khan, founder of the Jaipur-Atrauali gharana."
3. ↑ Alladiya Khan www.kamat.com.
4. ↑ Annual Ustad Alladiya Khan Music Festival Times Of India, April 19, 2003.
5. ↑ Recital in memory of Ustad Alladiya Khan Screen, April 29, 2005.
6. ↑ Ambassadors of their art The Hindu, September 23, 2007]].

External links

• Chembur.com article on Alladiya by Vamanrao Deshpande
• Rajan Parrikar's RMIC article and another article
• The "Jaipur Atrauli" Gharana