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Legendary sitarist Ustad Raees Khan passes away

Legendary sitarist Ustad Raees Khan passes away

“After Jinnah and Edhi, Ustad Raees was Pakistan's greatest personality," says Anwar Maqsood
Updated 07 May, 2017

Ustad Raees Khan, one of the most outstanding players of sitar, passed away on Saturday. He was 77.

He leaves behind his wife, renowned singer Bilqees Khanum, and four sons.

Ustad Raees was born in 1939 in Indore, India. He belonged to the Mewati Gharana of Indian classical music. The great sitar player Ustad Vilayat Khan was his uncle. He started playing sitar at a very young age. One account suggests his father gifted him a sitar when he was barely three years old. He was also a vocalist of high merit. He would often sing a composition to illustrate the raga he was playing. One of his early major performances was at the Sunderbai Hall.

Apart from performing at a number of concerts as a solo artist, Ustad Raees collaborated with legendary shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan on stage. Their performances together are considered to be some of the finest collaborative pieces of classical music. He also played sitar for film music composers. His association with composer Madan Mohan resulted in famous tracks such as ‘Naino mein badra chhayey’ in the film Mera Saya and ‘Rasm-i-ulfat ko nibhaen’ in Dil Ki Rahein.

After marrying Bilqees Khanum (his second wife) in the 1980s, Ustad Raees moved to Pakistan. He was welcomed with open arms, and he gave here one great performance after another. He regularly attended and participated in classical music concerts in Pakistan, sometimes playing sitar with his son Farhan. He encouraged young artists with all his heart and always lent them a helping hand.

Distinguished writer Anwar Maqsood felt terribly uneasy on Saturday night when he expected television channels to run the news of Ustad Raees Khan’s demise but instead saw the usual newsflashes and heated debates on political issues. “How can they do that? They can’t be this insensitive. After Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Abdul Sattar Edhi, Ustad Raees was our greatest personality. It’s such a huge loss. The man’s sitar-playing had magic and they (TV channels) don’t know that,” he said.

Mr Maqsood was finding it hard to believe that Ustad Raees had suddenly left us. “God had given him a rare gift. His fingers had that rare touch. I have a number of recordings of his performances. He may be physically no more, but he is with us,” said Mr Maqsood.

Also read: Music critics wonder — did television kill the classical music star?

The All Pakistan Music Conference’s Ayla Reza was also distraught. Ustad Raees had performed for the conference and had played a pivotal role in reviving interest in classical music among local audiences. “There are a handful of artists who achieve such greatness in their lifetime. He was known not just in the subcontinent, but was famous across the world. His virtuosity was rare. Not many know that he was a child prodigy. When he was two and a half years old, his father gave him a sitar made of coconut. He was a wonderful person at that. He was worth everything,” said Ms Reza.

The Tehzeeb Foundation’s Sharif Awan said, “He used to claim that he invented gaeki ang in his sitar playing. When I asked him, he told me that particular style of music could not be played without gamuk, and he used to do that. He was right. It’s a huge loss. He was a thinker when it came to sitar playing. He introduced more aspects to the art form. Ravi Shankar did that as well.”


Originally published in Dawn, May 7th, 2017

Comments

M. Saeed Awan May 07, 2017 09:43am
The country is going to be barren in the field of music. We had finest vocalists like Noor Jahan, Ustad Nusrat as well as Ustad Raees Khan. Now sorrowfully they have been replaced by Gun holders.
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saif May 07, 2017 09:58am
Rest in peace, beautiful Artist!
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Dr Sarkar, India May 07, 2017 10:01am
I remember his memorable performance along Abida Parvin - "Main Sufi hoon Sarmastah, Mera kaun pichhaane rasta". Ustad Raees Khan reached to a level where death can't reach. It is only leaving the body, he is immortal. He will be always with us. My condolences on the passing of the great Ustad.
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JS May 07, 2017 10:31am
Deeply grieved at the sad passing away of Ustad Raees Khan sahib. He was a genuine knower of classical music displaying its intricacies so efficiently in his sitar playing. An original sitar maestro, so remarkably our own. And now sadly he is no more. It's our loss, his family's and Pakistan's.
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Shakeel Ahmed May 07, 2017 11:55am
A great artist of a sadly dying breed belonging to arts and culture of our region. Will miss you. Rest in Peace. Anwar Maqsood Sahib, you sound a tad over the top though about comparison.
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JKhan May 07, 2017 12:12pm
Anwar Maqsood's compliment is out of line and does not elevate the two names he mentioned. Nobody and I repeat nobody should be compared with our Qauid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Mr Maqsood seems to have been caught up with age. But he is a fine individual.
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Abbas Nazir May 07, 2017 12:30pm
A big loss for us. His contribution to classical music was immense. Pioneer and creator of new bandish in raag Des and Malhar. Introduced the gaiki ang in sitar. Salamat Ali khan was once asked to comment on raag Bhagesheri played by ustaad Raes in a classical music gathering, he is reported to have said that the raag was played in such an open and complete fashion that there exists no need to talk on it. Shaukat Hussain accompanied him on tabla that night. Ustaad Raes Khan's words of wisdom and beautiful sound of Sitar will always keep him alive in our hearts.
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SYED HASSAN HASEEB May 07, 2017 12:33pm
there is no place for such big artists in pakistan.
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Anon May 07, 2017 12:44pm
Ustad raess Khan and artists like him, and people who value them are our heroes. Preserving our glorious past and mpreserving our culture and indentity
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Sp May 07, 2017 01:13pm
Great loss to Classical Music, Pakistan and India.
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Arshad, Canada May 07, 2017 01:17pm
A great loss for the classical music in the Indo-subcontinent. With all due respect Mr. Anwar Muqssod Sahib missed out many other great and noted Pakistanis when he said "After Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Abdul Sattar Edhi, Ustad Raees was our greatest personality" RIP
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Iftikhar May 07, 2017 01:20pm
Came as a complete shock to hear about Ustad Raees he was the torch bearer of Mewati gharana. A very rare gem passed away. RIP Ustad Raees Sahib.
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Rohit May 07, 2017 01:21pm
Rest in peace!!
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Raman May 07, 2017 01:32pm
Wow Ustad saheb! I see gentle reminder of "hamsadhawani" raag. This was adapted by Hindustani folks from Carnatic music in India. That Madan Mohan composition in the movie "mera saya" was in raag bimblasi. He will be missed. RIP genius!
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sanjiv May 07, 2017 01:38pm
classical music lovers of entire India,especially those who loved Madan Mohan music will be in deep mourning in his sad demise ! R.I.P.! May GOD bless his soul!
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Irfan Husain May 07, 2017 01:42pm
He made magic happen when he picked up his sitar. His alaaps were stunning in their virtuosity, and each note he played was crystal clear.I had the privilege of knowing him and hearing him play many times. RIP, Khan Sahib.
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Indian May 07, 2017 02:50pm
Anwar Maqsood said : -- "After Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Abdul Sattar Edhi, Ustad Raees was our greatest personality. It’s such a huge loss. The man’s sitar-playing had magic and they (TV channels) don’t know that,” ... Well sir, thats the price for moving out of India which gave one so much recognition, only to die an anonymous's death.
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Abbas Jaffri May 07, 2017 02:56pm
An unbearable loss to the world of music. He was not only one of the best sitar players of this century but an equally profound person. We will miss you, Khan saheb. Rest in peace
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Muslim Medina May 07, 2017 03:02pm
The classical music is now orphan and I sincerely hope some one will come forward as patron of classical music. May soul of Ustad Raees Khan rest in peace in "Jannat".
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Independent May 07, 2017 03:05pm
Rest in peace. A great loss indeed.
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Kashif ashraf May 07, 2017 03:29pm
The man is no more but his music lives. Rest in peace. You gave us so much.
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Ajay ladkani May 07, 2017 03:39pm
I had an opportunity to see him in late seventies in the house of Hindi film music director Ravi Saheb. He introduced me to Khan Saheb with an information that there was a Cameo of sitar played by Khan Saheb in the song Tora Man Darpan Kahlay in film Kajal under baton of Ravi. We will miss this great Sitarist.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 07, 2017 05:09pm
INNA LILLA HAY WAA INNA ILLEHEY RAJAYOON.
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Abraham haque May 07, 2017 11:17pm
@Iftikhar besides ustad Sharif poonchwale he was indeed a great performer I am not sure if any one from that generation are left
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AK Chowdhury May 07, 2017 11:18pm
Yes an excellent sitarist and jovial artist in young days. A tall personality physically as well in classical music. For jugalbandi with Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib one had to have thorough knowledge of Indian classical. A big loss to music world
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Chandra May 08, 2017 12:02am
Ok
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sanjiv May 08, 2017 05:15am
@Indian : Indeed true!
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Muhammad Farooq May 08, 2017 05:21am
Indians and Pakistanis can get together on such occasions, why can't they be together all the time instead of wasting tons of money on arms.
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Rayes Akbar May 08, 2017 08:01am
Ustad Raees Khan was not only Sitar mestrio but very nice Singer & Composer, he was very famous among the Bollywood Music directors. So many music directors take his compositions, but rarely he told about that, Lakshmi kant Piarey lal, Madan Mohan, Ravi &,so many Music Directors use him, his famous compositions are, ""Merey dil me aaj kia hai tu kahey to kahey to mai batadoon"" Bindya chamkey gi bijli chamkey gi" Jo hum ne dastan apni sunai aap kioon roey"" Paththar ke sanam tujhey hum ne mohabbat ka khuda jana"" He was allrounder Musitian, His death is very big loss for India &Pakistan Music. There are somany Ghazals he sang are on FB.
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aukhan May 08, 2017 11:02am
Bhands and merasees are our greatest personalities, its very shameful that we do not give our scientists their rightful positions. Our stars and heroes are actors, singers and musicians. Allama Iqbal said, "shasheer o sanan awwal taoos o rubab aakhir". We produced one Nobel prize winner scientist, but we do not acknowledge his efforts. We are already barren in the field of science and technology.
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Vijay Reddy Rajput May 08, 2017 01:13pm
God bless his soul.
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krishankant May 08, 2017 02:39pm
The music has no boundary and the Indian classical music is the soul of culture of the Indian subcontinent. May be sometime, the music will unit us again.
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TAHA SHABBer May 08, 2017 03:22pm
Huge loss, his place cant be fulfilled by any one, he is the one of his kind, may his soul rest in peace. its a truth that legends are born in centuries.
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Vegito May 09, 2017 02:09am
@aukhan Seriously? Someone passed away and this is what you have to say. Have some shame, if you have any. His family may be reading the article.
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abbas Nazir May 09, 2017 02:18am
@aukhan they are all valuable, a healthy society needs all of these fields to grow and develop
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hem pant May 09, 2017 09:33am
Good to see both Indians and Pakistanis paying tribute to Ustad. Raees Khan. Classical music is superb but unfortunately declining
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