Gun salute to music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan as people pay last respects

Kolkata: Music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan was accorded a gun salute by the West Bengal government as part of state honors in Kolkata on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024

Ustad Rashid Khan was undergoing treatment for cancer at a hospital in Kolkata. He breathed his last at a hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday.

His body was kept for public view at the Rabindra Sadan in Kolkata for people to pay their tributes. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her cabinet colleagues were among those who paid tributes to the 55-year-old classical singer at Rabindra Sadan on Wednesday.

His body is being taken to his native Uttar Pradesh for last rites.

Chief Minister Banerjee had earlier condoled the demise of the music maestro and said he was “one of the greatest exponents of Indian classical music of our times,” in her Jan. 9 X post @Mamataofficial.

She added, “A hugely respected vocalist with unparalleled genius in creating music, he made us proud by settling here and making Bengal his home. He and Soma, his wife, and son Armaan, and the whole family, were close to us and allowed us to be on their side in the maestro’s last journey in life. Ustad Rashid Khan got our highest civilian award Banga Bibhushan and our Sangeet Mahasamman too. He was attached to several of our State cultural bodies in advisory capacity. My profound condolences to Soma, Armaan Khan, and Ustad’s whole family as well as to the countless students and admirers that he leaves behind in the whole world. Ustad Rashid Khan was truly a world famous classical Indian vocal artist.”

Locket Chatterjee, along with other leaders of BJP, also paid last respects to the late singer.

Belonging to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, Ustad Rashid Khan carried forward the legacy of his great-grandfather Inayat Hussain Khan. His initial training was under his maternal grand-uncle Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan.

‘Aaoge Jab Tum Saajna’ from Kareena Kapoor Khan, Shahid Kapoor-starrer ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘Allah Hi Rahem’ from Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘My Name is Khan’ are some of his memorable tracks created for Bollywood.

He was only 11 years old when his debut concert took place.

Ustad Rashid Khan is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.