Age is just a number, as they say. Then, how would you describe someone who despite losing the ability to walk and confined to a wheelchair, still mesmerizes audiences with his powerful voice? Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan, who completed 105 years of age this year, is a Hindustani classical vocalist of the noted Gwalior gharana, and is counted among those Indian artistes who have left an indelible impression on the country’s cultural history. 

Born 1908 in a family of musicians tracing their roots back to Behram Khan of the Gwalior gharana, Abdul Rashid Khan’s vocal style belongs to the musical tradition of Miya Tansen, the great Hindustani classical music composer and singer and one of the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of Emperor Akbar.

By the age of 5, Abdul Rashid Khan displayed a clear ear for music and began formal training under his father Chhote Yusuf Khan at the age of 8. But it wasn’t until he was nearly 40 that he gave his first public performance with his father; the gurukul tradition has imbibed in him a sense of humility and the search for excellence in his craft. His versatility and repertoire include dhamar, dhrupad, khayal and thumri. Abdul Rashid Khan is also a prolific poet and writer, using the pseudonum ‘Rasan Piya’ for over 2000 compositions that have been recorded by BBC, Iraq Radio and ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. His performances at regional and international stages have won him many awards and felicitations.

Reminiscing about his early days, he speaks of rigorous training and practice sessions that lasted nearly 12 to 14 hours a day. Khansaheb, as Abdul Rashid Khan is fondly called, still follows a disciplined life, starting his day at 5 am with prayers, musical practice and teaching students taking up most of his time.

The President of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on Abdul Rashid Khan this year. Although his disciples and fans feel the award and recognition was long due, Khansaheb is happy he was thought worthy of receiving it. Such is his grounding and detachment to praise and attention.

He was also conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Delhi government recently. When asked what keeps him going even at this ripe old age, Khansaheb firmly believes that he was probably sent to earth to keep singing till his last breath, and to him “music is magic”. 

A regular performer over the last three decades on All India Radio and Doordarshan, Abdul Rashid Khan, currently resides at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata with his daughter and grandson Bilal Khan, who often accompanies him on the Tabla.