Wahid Khan, more commonly known as Wahid Khan Beenkar or Indorewale Wahid Khan,[1] (c. 1840s – 1933) was an Indian classical rudra veena player and, along with his younger brother Ghagge Nazir Khan, founded the Mewati gharana,[2] later popularized by Pandit Jasraj and Rais Khan.[3]

Wahid Khan
Bornc. 1850s
Alwar
OriginMewat
Died1933
Indore
GenresIndian classical music
Occupation(s)Instrumentalist of Hindustani Classical music
Years active1860s–1933

Background edit

Nazir Khan was born in the 1840s to a family of Khandarbani dhrupad musicians based in Agra. His grandfather was Dada Tikkad. He was trained in singing and rudra veena by his father, Imam Khan, and uncle, Wazir Khan, alongside his younger brother, Ghagge Nazir Khan.[4]

Wahid Khan continued his training with Bande Ali Khan and became one of only two of his anointed disciples.[5] Consequently, Wahid Khan is often affiliated with Bande Ali Khan's traditions, Kirana and Dagarbani, but forged his own path through the Mewati gharana, grounded in the earlier Khandarbani tradition.[6][7]

Career edit

Wahid Khan was appointed the court musician of Jodhpur, serving under Shivajirao Holkar and Tukojirao Holkar III, succeeding his guru, Bande Ali Khan who previously held the post.[8][9][10][11]

He would remain in Indore until his death in 1933.[12][13] His son, Latif Khan succeeded as court musician of Indore afterwards.[14]

Legacy edit

Wahid Khan was considered one of the finest rudra veena players and teachers of his time.[15][16]

Disciples edit

Wahid Khan had six children, four of whom went on to be musicians. This includes Latif Khan, Majid Khan, Ghulam Qadir Khan, and Hamid Khan. His oldest two sons, Latif and Majid, married into the family of Imdad Khan. His great-grandson was Rais Khan, through his daughter, Begum Hasiban Bai, the mother of Mohammed Khan.[17]

Further reading edit

  • Rasraj by Sunita Budhiraja, Vani Prakashan, 2018.

References edit

  1. ^ "A song of forever". Deccan Herald. 30 August 2020.
  2. ^ Nair, Jyoti (15 February 2018). "Pt Jasraj, a star of Mewati". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  3. ^ "Mewati Gharana". pjsm.
  4. ^ Divekar, Hindraj; Tribhuwan, Robin D. (2001). Rudra Veena: An Ancient String Musical Instrument. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 34–35. ISBN 9788171415816.
  5. ^ Deodhar, B. R. (1993). Pillars of Hindustani Music. Popular Prakashan. p. 82. ISBN 9788171545551.
  6. ^ Avtar, Ram (1987). History of Indian Music and Musicians. Pankaj Publications. p. 98. ISBN 9788187155645.
  7. ^ "Artist - Bande Ali Khan (Rudra Veena or Been), Gharana - Kirana". www.swarganga.org.
  8. ^ Silver, Brian; Burghardt, R. Arnold (1976). "On Becoming an Ustād: Six Life Sketches in the Evolution of a Gharānā". Asian Music. 7 (2): 27–58. doi:10.2307/833788. JSTOR 833788.
  9. ^ Misra, Susheela (1990). Some Immortals of Hindustani Music. Harman Publishing House. p. 52. ISBN 9788185151144.
  10. ^ "Pandit Jasraj's Unfulfilled Quest to Find the Grave of Mewat Gharana's Founder". NewsClick. 18 August 2020.
  11. ^ van der Meer, Wim (1977). Hindustani Music in the 20th Century: A Study of the Dynamic Nature of Classical Vocal Music in North India. University of Michigan. p. 172.
  12. ^ Nadkarni, Mohan (1999). The Great Masters: Profiles in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music. Rupa & Company. p. 38. ISBN 9788172232849.
  13. ^ "Description of Family Tree – Mewati Gharana".
  14. ^ Ghosh, Sharmistha (1988). String Instruments (plucked Variety) of North India (Volume 2 ed.). Eastern Book Linkers. pp. 17, 47, 81.
  15. ^ Khan, Vilayat Hussain (1959). Sangeetagyon Ke Sansmaran. New Delhi: New Hindustan Press. p. 202.
  16. ^ Miner, Allyn (1993). Sitar and Sarod in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Limited. p. 136. ISBN 9788120814936.
  17. ^ Bagchee, Sandeep (1998). Nād: Understanding Rāga Music. Eeshwar. ISBN 9788186982075.

External links edit