Kolkata Musicians Pay Tribute to Ustad Aashish Khan Following His Passing

Musicians in Kolkata mourned the loss of Ustad Aashish Khan, a celebrated sarod player from the Maihar Gharana. He passed away in the US on Friday due to age-related issues. His nephew, Ustad Shiraj Ali Khan, shared the news on social media, expressing deep sadness and stating, "With extreme sadness, we inform you of the passing of our revered and beloved Aashish Khan. We have been blessed to have him in our lives and he will remain in our hearts forever."

Ustad Alam Khan, his brother, also paid tribute, describing Aashish Khan as a maestro of the sarod and a khalifa of the Maihar Gharana. He mentioned that Aashish was surrounded by family, friends, and students during his final days. Alam Khan praised his brother's legacy as an incredible sarodist and composer whose music inspired many worldwide. "He was a beloved guru and teacher to so many students globally and will be deeply missed," he said.

Legacy of a Maestro

The Sangeet Natak Akademi expressed its condolences, recognising Aashish Khan as an eminent Hindustani musician and awardee of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In a post on X, they stated, "Deeply mourn the sad demise of Aashis Khan, an eminent Hindustani musician, a player of the sarod and the Sangeet natak Akademi awardee. He passed away yesterday." The news sparked grief among Kolkata's classical music community.

Pandit Bickram Ghosh, a renowned percussionist, remembered Ustad Aashish Khan for captivating global audiences with his sarod mastery. He recalled their first world tour together in 1991 and described him as both a father figure and close family friend. "We had a great chemistry on stage, and his death is a huge personal loss for me," Ghosh said.

Influence on Classical Music

Pandit Tanmoy Bose reminisced about Khan as one of the classical music superstars in the 1970s. He fondly remembered their performances at major festivals worldwide. "He was not just a brilliant musician but also an excellent cook," Bose said. He shared memories of wonderful moments at Khan's Chicago home and mentioned that Khan had planned to return to Kolkata next year.

Sarod maestro Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar praised Khan as a maverick sarod player who blended influences from various legends like Ustad Zakir Hussain. He recalled a memorable jugalbandi with Pandit Swapan Chowdhury in the 1970s, which he considered one of Khan’s finest performances.

Collaborations and Contributions

Aashish Khan's collaborations were legendary, including performances with sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar and even The Beatles. He contributed to soundtracks of iconic films such as Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy and Jalsaghar, along with Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. His death signifies the end of an era in classical instrumental music.

A celebration of Khan’s life is planned at the Ali Akbar College of Music soon. His influence on music remains profound, inspiring countless musicians and listeners around the world.