|
An
extremely talented musician, Ustad Wahid Hussain Khan
was born in Delhi in the year 1923. He was the eldest son of Haji
Ustad Altaf Hussain Khan Sahab, of the famous Khurja
gharana. Ustad Wahid Hussain was a heavenly
gifted vocalist. A great son of a great father, Ustad Altaf
Hussain Khan Sahab who was the maternal uncle as well as
the guru and mentor of the Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain
Khan Sahab.
Ustad
Wahid Hussain Khan was the eleventh direct descendent
of the Khurja Gharana which started fading
after the death of Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan in
the year 1975, and migration of Ustad Wahid Hussain
Khan and his
brother Ustad Mumtaz Hussain Khan to Pakistan
Karachi. But it is wrong to say that khurja Gharana has vanished,
as the tradition still is alive with Ustad Aslam Hussain
Khan
(brother-in-law of Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan) Ustad
Wahid Khan Sahab's
sons Ustad Javed Hussain Khan and Parvez Khusro (Karachi,
Pakistan). Ustad
Azmat Hussain Khan Sahab taught Khurja Gayaki
to Ustad Aslam Khan, Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan, Jeetendra
Abhishekhi, Durgabai Shirodkar, Shri T.l.Raju and many
others including Khan Sahab's son Vajahat Hussain Khan. It is a matter of surprise why this old traditional Gharana
is neglected by many writers and music circles.
Ustad
Wahid Hussain Khan Sahab received his initial training
from his illustrious father Ustad Altaf Hussain Khan.
He was also benefited with the association of his maternal
brother
Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan and also Ustad
Vilayat Hussain Khan. He participated in all the major
conferences of India including the radio, Sangeet Sammelan and
the Sur Singar Samsad Conference. He was an extremely Surila
vocalist with broad voice, clear Aakar (intonation), variety of Sargams
and Taans. Excellent Layakari and
perfect Asthayee Bharan were his major singing
qualities. After the demise of his father in the year 1964 he
migrated to karachi pakistan with his brother Ustad Mumtaz
Hussain Khan and their families. They popularised Indian
Classical Music in Pakistan also with great dedication. Khan Sahab
trained number of disciples in Karachi and Lahore. Ustad
Wahid Hussain Khan Sahab's son Parvez Khusro has
matured into an excellent performer and is busy in popularising
the Khurja
Gharana Gayaki. Ustad Wahid Hussain Khan Sahab
was a beautiful composer and he has composed several Arthayees
and Atras under the pen name Prabhu Das
and Wahid Rang. Three years
before his death he came to India
and also visited Bombay. During the visit he was highly honoured and also did give
several wonderful performances.
The
all India radio N.C.P.A. Sangeet Mahabharathi and many other
music circles have recorded his performances and interviews.
He has also been recorded by the all India radio Delhi, Sangeet
Natak Academy and several Institutions in new Delhi. Ustad
Wahid Hussain Khan had a unique style of singing and
those who have heard him singing Khayals, Dhupads, Tarana
Thumri and
Bhajans can never ever forget him. It was indeed
very sad that Ustad Wahid Hussain, had to migrate
to Pakistan due to unavoidable circumstances, but its a fact
that he was a true Indian and his heart and soul always kept
remembering his motherland. He kept serving the Indian classical
music even there in Pakistan, for five years. He taught music
to students and also did research work in music at Pakistan music
academy. He also received awards of Sur-Sangam and Fakhre-Ahange-Khusravi
from the government of Pakistan.
Besides
the great services of Ustad Wahid Hussain Khan Sahab, his brother
Ustad Mumtaz Hussain Khan Sahab also did serve the cause of Indian
Music with great dedication. Ustad Mumtaz Hussain was a very
sensible vocalist composer and a keen musicologist. He also got
expired few years back in Karachi (Pakistan). His sons Taufiq
Niazi & brothers are doing well in traditional Qawwali Singing. Also Parvez Khusro and Ustad Javed Khan Sahab both sons of Wahid Hussain Khan Sahab have matured as a vocalist of extraordinary ability.
|