Amjad Ali Khan and his sons carry on a family legacy

Sandip Roy-Chowdhury,

Sep 10, 2002

When Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash take the stage, they have seven generations of music flowing through their fingers into the sarods. Their concert in the San Francisco Bay Area in August helps raise money for the India Literacy Project. Coupling musical mastery with a social cause is something that has always been dear to Amjad Ali Khan. Now, with his two sons joining him on stage, the charismatic performer is taking his art and his sensibilities to a new generation.

Your family developed the sarod from a Persian instrument, the rabab. How do you feel you have helped the music to evolve?

I always wanted to bring out song on the sarod, to sing through the instrument. My father said it's not possible?it's a fretless staccato instrument, not a bow instrument like sarangi. But most of the time he would sing and I would follow him. That helped me?by the grace of God, the sarod is more expressive today. That is why I could do something like an album of Rabindra Sangeet with Suchitra Mitra.

On your website www.sarod.com, you list the different raagas you have created like Priyadarshani. What is a new raaga?

I feel embarrassed to say I have composed a raaga. I would like to say I have discovered raagas. They are always there in the air somewhere. When I am sitting alone I am humming and singing to myself, the raaga asks me, "do you know me?" I say no. The raaga says, "Will you accept me or should I go?" And sometimes I do accept and give them a name. Like any newborn, which has the mother's eyes or the father's lips, every raaga has glimpses of other raagas, but a different soul.

You spoke out against the recent communal violence in Gujarat. What role can an artiste play in these times?

Flowers and music have no religion?but every religion needs them. I feel like I am connected to every religion. My wife Subhalakshmi is Hindu, and I am Muslim. In our house we have freedom of religion. That's the character of India. I feel ashamed as an Indian to see what happened in Gujarat?for two months everyone watched and no one could stop it. All over the world now I see the fear of destruction?whether it is Sept.11 or the train being burned in Godhra or Gujarat. As an artiste I feel there should be peace all over the world.

Your father Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan was a court musician of Gwalior. After the privy purses of the maharajas were abolished how did it affect musicians?

With all due respect to rajas and maharajas sometimes it's a great strain for musicians to please a person who does not understand music. Thank God that time is over?now the world is my audience.

What about the Indian government? Has it done a good job preserving classical music?

Nothing is enough obviously. But if you look at the situation 50 years back, in spite of all the struggles in Indian music, there are many more classical musicians existing today in all fields. But the outlet is limited, opportunities are limited. So there is a lot of frustration?some musicians are full of venom.

What about NRIs? What role can they play?

I feel proud to see the achievements of my countrymen. I think successful NRIs could establish scholarships for young musicians. I just finished teaching a course in Illinois. I was teaching mostly Americans who are learning Western classical music. So they were all musicians. I did not want to teach people who are learning for a hobby.

When you hear your sons play can you tell them apart?

I feel no musician, is complete. Sirf Bhagwan complete hai (Only God is complete). Amaan and Ayaan are good human beings, but different ones, and they sound different. Their approach is different and they complement each other. Thank God they are not identical. Some gharanas, they all sound alike.

As a father, were you nervous when you realized your sons would follow you into this field?

I feel embarrassed to say classical music is my profession. It is my passion. It is 50 years since I started performing. I never had the chance to think what would be my career. I was just serving my guru, my father. I believe nothing good can happen until our parents and guru bless us.

In the creative field 2+2 is never 4. You have to surrender?to God, art, and the purity of raagas. Future was always uncertain and always will be.

Initially my sons were nervous about their future. I would say, I don't know your future but you are in better shape than I was. I had rented a house for Rs. 250 a month and I was not sure if I would be able to pay the rent. But by the grace of God, I did. Thanks to the people. Amjad Ali Khan is made by India, by the love and encouragement of the people of India, no matter what happens in Gujarat or Babri Masjid.

How was it to deal with your father as teacher?   He was very flexible and liberal compared to his father. We were the youngest disciples?he was almost helping us change our diapers. Now we are bringing out a book called Abba which is our perception of his life.   How are young people regarding Indian classical music?   When we see people of our own age group performing?it gives a different message. Our age group can connect to us in a better way. So it's always a great pleasure seeing so many young people at concerts. I have been going to my father's concerts since I was 4 or 5. I would not see many people below 30 then. But now it seems there are so many more young people. Of course I think in the '90s people rediscovered Indian classical music. People even use it for Reiki healing and yoga.   What is a lesson like with your father and brother?   The atmosphere is tense at a lesson. Being the older one, people expect me to be quicker as far as pickup is concerned, maturity is concerned. Ayaan and I are more of friends than brothers. When I hear him at the concert I want him to be very good. I don't think, "I hope he isn't as good as me." Jealousy just holds you back   What has been your mother's role in your musical development?   Father has made me a good musician. Mother has made a good performer. There is no point in being one without the other. My mother has taught me the basics of presenting yourself on stage.   So what have you revealed about your father in your book on him? Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is known as the perfect musician, perfect performer. Is he the perfect father though?   He has his weaknesses?he really loves chocolates though he tries to control that. He is also crazy about Starbucks coffee. Whenever he has some money in his pocket he is getting himself an espresso latte or a cappuccino. But Abba is God's greatest gift to us. To get a father and teacher in one person is a big boon. Now it is up to me and my brother is to take the best and see how much we can do.

"After 9/11 and the Gujarat riots I feel ashamed to belong to the human race."

 

'I am only capable of musical flirtation'

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has collaborated with Scottish Chamber Orchestra for a fusion concerto to be held in six Indian cities this February. Sreya Basu meets him just before his performance in Kolkata

Do you still feel nervous before a performance?

Not exactly. But I do pray to God to help me play the music.

Now, what is 'Samaagam' all about?

'Samaagam' as the name suggests is confluence…(I suggested this name). This concert is going to be a confluence of Eastern and European classical music. For the first time I have collaborated with the national orchestra of Scotland-Scotland Chamber Orchestra (SCO) where the first part of the concert will play pieces from European masters like Mozart and Beethoven, the second part will be my solo performance and the concluding part will be a amalgamation of the Eastern and Western classical music. Our first 'Samaagam' was held at London in June 2008. India is the second country where it started with Mumbai and after Kolkata, we will have our performances at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Do you think people are alienating them from Indian classical music?

Yes, thanks to the 200 channels. These days I feel thankful if people come to my solo concerts.

There are so many talent hunt shows now. What's your take on those?

TV channels highlight the entertainment part of it. What about our tradition? Music is not screaming, dancing in pretty dresses or winning talent hunts. There is no serious music on any channel except Doordarshan.

Will you judge a reality show?

Yes, provided I am given the independence to pass my judgment not for TRPs.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is one of the foremost Sarod players in India and has carved a niche for himself in the Hall of Fame of Indian classical music. He has achieved immense popularity in India as well as abroad and has equally regaled connoisseurs and lay listeners of classical music.

He imparts a rare aesthetic experience to his audiences with his creative. imagination, consummate artistry and an imposing stage presence. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan belongs to an illustrious family of musicians, Ustad Nanne Khan and Ustad Murad Ali Khan. His father, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan had received training from the great Wazir Khan of Rampur. Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan who was among the first few to receive Padma Bhushan gave intensive training to his sons, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his two brothers.

The creative genius of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan found expression in several enchanting melodies composed by him. He has composed raga Priyadarshini and Kamalashree in memory of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The names of other melodies composed by him are Shivanjali, Haripriya Kanada, Kiran Ranjani, Suhag Bhairav, Lalit Dhwani, Shyam Shri and Jawahar Manjari.

He has been closely associated with several charitable organizations like the Spastics Society of India, the Indian Cancer Society, Blind Association and others.

He has trained many disciples who have blossomed into mature, performing artistes. In nurturing and propagating Indian classical music he is committed to the cause of fostering musical appreciation amongst school children. He is dedicated to the preservation and popularization of Indian classical music through Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Memorial Society which he founded in memory of his Guru and father. The society presents an annual Award to eminent artistes and organizes music festivals every year in different parts of the country.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is the recipient of several awards (and honours) some of which are Sarod Samrat, UNESCO Award, Padmashree, Kala Ratna, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Tansen Award and Padma Bhushan.

Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash went the matching route in similar sherwani-style jackets.

Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan feels the age-old tradition of classifying Indian music as Carnatic and Hindustani should be replaced by Classical north Indian or South Indian music to effectively reach out to the Western world.

“It is better for the Western world to understand that we represent the same country and same music. Music is music. It knows no religion or community and the musical notes just connect the world,” Mr. Khan, who was here for a concert at the Narada Gana Sabha, told PTI.

The maestro said he strongly felt that the “time has come to start addressing Indian classical music” by these names.

Recalling his ties with a city that brought him face to face with some doyens of Carnatic music like the late M S Subbulakshmi, Semmankkudi Sreenivasa Iyer, Maharajapuram Santhanam, D K Pattammal and M L Vasanthakumari, the Sarod maestro said he missed their presence today.

“I miss their presence as most of them were regular visitors to my concert, especially Ms. Subbulakshmi,” he said, recalling that Ms. Subbulakshmi, affectionately known as MS, had played host to him at her house.

Mr. Khan who was awarded the “Bharat Sangeet Samrat” at the Bharat Sangeet Utsav on Thursday said that his wife Subbulakshmi Khan, a Bharatanatyam exponent mentored at the famous Kalakshetra under the tutorship of celebrated dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale.

He said it was “a great honour to receive the latest award in the city.

A recipient of three Padma Awards, including the Padma Vibhushan, the maestro says he is happy that the present day audience is an amalgamation of the young and old, “who are enjoying music much more than ever“.

Mr. Khan said he is scheduled to visit the city early next year with his sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan to offer a “triple delight” to the connoisseurs of music.