The famous classical vocalist, Ustad Rashid Khan, has passed away after a prolonged illness, battling prostate cancer. He was well-known for his rendition of the hit song ‘Aaoge Jab Tum…’ and had been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer for an extended period. He was admitted to a Kolkata hospital in November and took his last breath at the age of 55.
According to reports, he had been on oxygen support for several days. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed grief over Ustad Rashid Khan’s demise, stating that it is a loss for the entire nation.
Apart from classical music, Ustad Rashid Khan contributed several hit songs to the Indian film industry. His notable works include the song ‘Aaoge Jab Tum…’ from the film ‘Jab We Met’ and other popular tracks like ‘Tujhe Yaad Karate-Karate’ and ‘Tu Banja Gali Banaras Ki.’
It’s worth mentioning that Ustad Rashid Khan faced a mental health crisis last month, and his condition deteriorated thereafter. Ustad Rashid Khan belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana and was a descendant of the renowned Inayat Hussain Khan. Born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, he received his initial musical education from his maternal grandfather, Ustad Nissar Hussain.
Ustad Rashid Khan joined the academy at the age of 14 in 1980 and remained associated with it until 1994. His musical style combined the Gayaki of the Gwalior gharana with the purity of Hindustani classical music. He was honored with the Padma Shri and various awards from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for his contributions to the field of music.
