Fateh Ali Khan Biography 
Fateh Ali Khan was a famous Qawwali singer in the pre-independent India, who moved to Pakistan following partition. He is better known as the father of great Qawwali singer and musician, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Qawwali harmonium player Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan. Rahet fateh Ali Khan – one of the most sought playback singers of Bollywood is his grandson (son of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan). Though he was a great singer he discouraged his children from following his tradition of music feeling that qawwali singers won’t get good respect in the society. But his sons proved it wrong popularizing the music form across the borders. Now his descendants are equally loved by Indians and Pakistanis.
Fateh Ali Khan was born in 1901 in British India. He belonged to Jalandhar, the oldest city of Punjab. Their family has an unbroken tradition of Qawwali for more than 6 centuries. It was closely linked to the Sufi Chishti Order, the inner mystical dimension of Islam. Fateh Ali Khan too continued the legacy and their qawwali troupe was named as - Fateh Ali Khan, Mubarak Ali Khan & Party. His younger brother Mubarak Ali Khan accompanied him as a singer and harmonist. The siblings were regarded as the foremost qawwali singers of the time.
They also popularized the poetry of Allama Iqbal through their compositions. The siblings were equally appreciated by upper circle and common man. After partition they moved to Faisalabad where they continued with their work. Fateh’s son Nusrat fateh Ali Khan was born one year later. Nusrat received initial training in music from his father. However Fateh Ali khan passed away in 1964, aged 63.
Published: N/A
Updated: April 24, 2016
