Musician Ustad Rashid Khan Passes Away At 55

Renowned music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was aged 55.

He breathed his last at a hospital in Kolkata where he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. His condition deteriorated following a cerebral attack in December.

Expressing her condolence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of Ustad Rashid Khan, one of the greatest exponents of Indian classical music of our times. 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."

She said that Ustad Rashid Khan was honoured with Bengal's highest civilian award Banga Bibhushan and Sangeet Mahasamman. "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."

Ustad Rashid Khan belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, and was the great-grandson of gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan. He was married to Soma Khan.

His early musical education was under the guidance of his maternal grand-uncle, Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan (1909-1993), and he was also the nephew of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan.

List Of Major Honours Won By Ustad Rashid Khan

• Padma Shri (2006)
• Banga Bhushan in 2012
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2006)
• Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA) (2010)
• Maha Sangeet Samman Award (2012)
• Mirchi Music Awards (2013)
• Padma Bhushan (2022)