Allauddin Khan (Bangla: ওস্তাদ আলাউদ্দীন খান, also known as Baba Allauddin Khan) (1862–1972), was a Bengali Indian classical sarodiya and multi-instrumentalist and one of the greatest Indian music teachers of the 20th Century, father of Ali Akbar Khan and Annapurna Devi and guru to Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Vasant Rai, Pannalal Ghosh, Aashish Khan and other influential musicians. He himself was a disciple of many great musicians, most importantly the legendary Wazir Khan. Bengali or Bangla (বাংলা, IPA: ) is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from Prakrit, Pāli and Sanskrit. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Bengali people are the ethnic community from Bengal (divided between India and Bangladesh) on the Indian subcontinent with a history dating back four millennia. ... The sarod is an Indian classical musical instrument which probably originates from the Senya rebab an Indio-persian instrument played in India to the 19th century. ... Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Bengali: ) is a North Indian classical musician of the Maihar gharana who plays the sarod. ... Annapurna Devi (born 1926) is a reclusive surbahar (bass sitar) player and music teacher in the North Indian classical tradition. ... Guru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sitar Maestro © www. ... Nikhil Banerjee Nikhil Banerjee (Bangla: নিখিল ব্যানার্জী) (14 October 1931–27 January 1986) was one of Indias most prominent sitar players of the second half of the 20th Century. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Pannalal Ghosh (1911-1960), also known as Amal Jyoti Ghosh, was a Bengali Indian bānsurÄ« player and composer. ... Aashish Khan playing a sarod. ...

Early life & musical education

Allauddin Khan was born in Shibpur village in Brahmanbaria, in present-day Bangladesh, the son of Sabdar Hossain Khan, also known as Sadhu Khan. Alluddin's elder brother, Fakir Aftabuddin, first taught him some music in the home. Brahmanbaria is a district in east-central Bangladesh. ...

At the age of ten, Allauddin ran away from home to join a jatra band, a traditional Bengali form of theater. This experience exposed him to the rich folk tradition of Bengal. After some time, he went to Kolkata, and was accepted as a student by singer Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, alias Nulo Gopal. Allauddin committed to a 12-year practice program; However, Nulo Gopal died of plague after the seventh year. Khan then became a disciple of Amritalal Dutt, a close relative of Swami Vivekananda and music director at Kolkata's Star Theatre, with the goal of becoming an instrumentalist. At this time, he also took lessons in European classical violin from a Mr. Lobo, a bandmaster from Goa. Allaudin Khan developed a close connection with the violin, and subsequently recorded many short pieces on it. Jatra (literally going or journey) a form of folk drama combining acting, songs, music, dance, characterised by stylised delivery and exaggerated gestures and orations. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in the Bengali language, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ...   (IPA: [] Bengali: কলকাতা) (formerly  ) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... Swami Vivekananda (Bengali: স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ Shami Bibekanondo) (January 12, 1863 - July 4, 1902), whose pre-monastic name was Narendranath Dutta (Bengali: নরেন্দ্রনাথ দত্ত Nôrendronath Dotto), was one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of the philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga and a major figure in the history of Hinduism and India. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... The violin is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. ... Goa   (Konkani: गोंय goṃya; Marathi: गोवा govā; Portuguese: Goa) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population (after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh). ...

Baba's instruments Photograph: Subhash Reswal

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

The sarod

Alauddin Khan got interested in sarod after a concert at Jagat Kishore Acharya's, zamindar of Muktagachha, where he listened to Ahmed Ali Khan, a student of Asghar Ali Khan (Amjad Ali Khan's grand-uncle). Alauddin became his student, and studied the sarod under him for five years. His next step was to go to Rampur for lessons from Wazir Khan beenkar, court musician of the Nawab there, and one of the last direct descendants of the legendary Tansen. Through him, Alauddin was given access to the Senia gharana (Tansen school of music), arguably north India's most coveted body of musical knowledge. He later became the court musician of Brijnath Singh Maharaja of Maihar Estate in Central Province. Zamindar, also known as Zemindar, Zamindari, or the Zamindari System (Persian: زمیندار) were employed by the Mughals to collect taxes from peasants. ... Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is a highly acclaimed Indian sarod player and composer. ... Rampur is a city located in the Northern part of Uttar Pradesh between Moradabad and Bareilly, not far from Delhi. ... Ustad Asad Ali Khan,Pandit Hindraj Divekar,Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai and Ustad Bahauddin Dagar(Dagar Veena-a variation of the traditional Rudra Veena) are the surviving exponents of the instrument in India. ... Nawab (Urdu: نواب ) was originally the subadar (provincial governor) or viceroy of a subah (province) or region of the Mughal empire. ... Tansens tomb in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India Tansen (1506–1589) was a North Indian musician, believed to be the greatest of all time. ... In Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization which groups musicians who are linked by lineage and/or discipleship and who adhere to a particular musical style. ... The word Maharaja (also spelled maharajah) is Hindi as well as ancient Sanskrit for high king (a karmadharaya from maha great and rajan king). Its use is primarily for Hindu potentates (ruler or sovereign). ... Maihar is a town in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ...

Maihar Gharana

During his time as a court musician, Allauddin Khan completely reshaped the Maihar gharana of Indian classical music. The Maihar gharana was established in the 19th Century, but Khan's contribution was so fundamental that he is often thought to be its creator. This was a period of rapid change for Hindustani instrumental music, thanks not least to Allauddin Khan, who infused the beenbaj and dhrupad ang, previously known from the been, surbahar (bass sitar) and sur-sringar (bass sarod), into the playing of many classical instruments. Ustad Asad Ali Khan,Pandit Hindraj Divekar,Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai and Ustad Bahauddin Dagar(Dagar Veena-a variation of the traditional Rudra Veena) are the surviving exponents of the instrument in India. ... — This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ustad Asad Ali Khan,Pandit Hindraj Divekar,Ustad Shamsuddin Faridi Desai and Ustad Bahauddin Dagar(Dagar Veena-a variation of the traditional Rudra Veena) are the surviving exponents of the instrument in India. ... Surbahar The surbahar (also known as bass sitar) is a plucked string instrument used in the Hindustani classical music of North India. ...

For though he gave concerts on the sarod, Allauddin played many instruments, something that shaped his pedagogy. He put together an orchestra with Indian instruments, the Maihar String Band, and while his son, Ali Akbar Khan, was taught the sarod, his daughter Annapurna Devi learned the surbahar, students such as Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee played the sitar and Pannalal Ghosh the bansuri bamboo flute. Of course Ravi Shankar became very famous and spread this gharana over the world – something that Allauddin himself had started when, in 1935–1936, he went on an international tour with Uday Shankar's dance troupe. Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Bengali: ) is a North Indian classical musician of the Maihar gharana who plays the sarod. ... Annapurna Devi (born 1926) is a reclusive surbahar (bass sitar) player and music teacher in the North Indian classical tradition. ... Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sitar Maestro © www. ... Nikhil Banerjee Nikhil Banerjee (Bangla: নিখিল ব্যানার্জী) (14 October 1931–27 January 1986) was one of Indias most prominent sitar players of the second half of the 20th Century. ... Premla Shahane playing a sitar, 1927 The sitar (Urdu: ستار, Hindi: सितार) is probably the best-known South Asian instrument in the West. ... Pannalal Ghosh (1911-1960), also known as Amal Jyoti Ghosh, was a Bengali Indian bānsurÄ« player and composer. ... 7 and 6 hole traverse bansuri The bansuri, one of the oldest musical instruments in India, is a side-blown flute made of bamboo or reed with six or seven holes, and used in Hindustani classical music as well as light music and film music. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Uday Shankar (1900 - 1977) is a world renowned classical dancer and choreographer from India. ...

Allauddin stayed at Maihar from 1918 to his death. In 1955, he established an institution for higher studies in music called Maihar College of Music. He was given the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1952, and the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan – India's third and second highest civilian decorations – in 1958 and 1971, respectively. The Sangeet Natak Akademi (DevanāgarÄ«: संगीत नाटक अकादेमी or, The National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the first national level academy of art set up by the Government of India. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Padma Bhushan is an Indian civilian decoration established on January 2, 1954 by the President of India. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ...

Personal life

Baba's Mazar erected by son Ali Akbar Photograph: Subhash Reswal

When many people hear the name Allauddin Khan, they think of a grumpy old man (after all, he lived to 110) with a hot temper but a heart of gold – anecdotes about him range from throwing a tabla tuning hammer at the Maharaja himself to taking care of disabled beggars. (Nikhil Banerjee said that the tough image was "deliberately projected in order not to allow any liberty to the disciple. He always had the tension that soft treatment on his part would only spoil them".^[1]) Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A typical set of Tabla. ...

Allauddin was a very religious man, and though Muslim by name, was strongly devoted to the goddess Saraswati, in the form of Sarada Devi, to whom there stands an old and famous temple atop a hill in Maihar. This is why Allauddin, despite more lucrative offers from other courts, never left Maihar, refusing to move away even for hospital treatment – he would rather die near Sarada Devi than live someplace else. A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... For the Vedic river, see Saraswati River. ...

A few years before the turn of the century, he married Madanmanjari Devi (1888–?). He had one son and sarod heir, Ali Akbar Khan, and three daughters, Sharija, Jehanara and Annapurna Devi. After Sharija got married, and her jealous mother-in-law burnt her tanpura, Allauddin decided not to train his other daughters, but Annapurna proved so talented he changed his mind. She later married and divorced Ravi Shankar. Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Bengali: ) is a North Indian classical musician of the Maihar gharana who plays the sarod. ... Annapurna Devi (born 1926) is a reclusive surbahar (bass sitar) player and music teacher in the North Indian classical tradition. ... The tambura is a musical instrument used in various places around the world. ... Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sitar Maestro © www. ...

Ragas created by Allauddin Khan

Allauddin Khan was fond of sankeerna (compound) ragas, and created many ragas of his own, including Arjun, Bhagabati, Bhim, Bhuvaneshvari, Chandika, Dhabalashri, Dhankosh, Dipika, Durgeshvari, Gandhi, Gandhi Bilawal, Haimanti, Hem-Behag, Hemant, Hemant Bhairav, Imni Manjh, Jaunpuri Todi, Kedar Manjh, Komal Bhimpalasi, Komal Marwa, Madanmanjari, Madhabsri, Madhavgiri, Malaya, Manjh Khamaj, Meghbahar, Muhammed, Nat-Khamaj, Prabhakali, Raj Bijoy, Rajeshri, Shobhavati, Subhabati, Sugandha and Surasati. Many of these have not become common Maihar repertoire; Manjh Khamaj is perhaps the best known. Some of Allauddin's recordings have been released on CD, on the Great Gharanas: Maihar compilation in RPG/EMI's Chairman's Choice series. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is an English music company comprising the major record company, EMI Music which operates several labels, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ...

Films

• Raga (1971). Directed by Howard Worth.

Festivals and Institutions

West Bengal Government has instituted Allauddin Purashkar in 1982, the highest award for musical excellence in the state. The government of Madhya Pradesh named its official body for music after the great twentieth century educationist -- Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy. The music academy centred at Bhopal, apart from other promotional activities, organises a grand three-day festival to perform in which the artistes invited consider a life-time honor. The overnight concert usually held in February or early March when nights are chilly in Maihar starts with compositions of Baba (as he is respectfully referred to) are played by the members of orchestral band he had formed and trained. The Maihar Band has seen its fortune rise and dwindle with times. Managed by Maihar College of Music he had founded and looked after by Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy, today the Band has only ten artistes out of eighteen sanctioned. The unique feature of this orchestra is the instrument created by Ustad Allauddin Khan out of old gun-barrels. These barrels are kept loose on a wooden plate about four feet wide and can be switched to create the sequence of notes required. In construction this resembles the Kashth Tarang, but the Nal Tarang (Misra, Lalmani. Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya, p. 254) has a tinkling sonorous sound. This article is about the modern Indian city. ... Maihar is a town in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. ... Maihar Band in 2007 Photograph: Subhash Reswal // It is alleged that after an epidemic orphaned several children, Ustad Allauddin Khan, a musician of the Maihar court moved by the tragedy, initiated them to music and formed an orchestral group which was later known as Maihar Band. ... Dr. Lalmani Misra M.A. Ph. ... Cover - Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya (2002) Bharatiya Sangeet Vadya (Indian Musical Instruments) ISBN 81-263-0727-7 Written by Dr. Lalmani Misra This book was published under the Lokodya Granthmala series (Granthak / Volume No. ...

External link

• www.allauddinkhan.org (this page doesn't work)
• Online Music Education

Footnote

↑  "One day I heard him speaking out rather candidly, 'Don't you see that I am a grandsire? Don't I feel like taking them (meaning his grandsons) in my arms – patting and loving them? But I am afraid it may spoil them.' Here was the inner voice which could be heard seldom or never. Beneath the veil of toughness was the soft and tender soul bubbling with humanity." (My Maestro As I Saw Him, essay by Nikhil Banerjee printed in the booklet to Afternoon Ragas, Raga Records Raga-211)