Asad Ali Khan Biography 
Asad Ali Khan was an Indian musician proficient in rudra veena, who is widely regarded as best among rudra veena artists in the 20th century and later. He performed in the style dhrupad. He was honoured with Padma Bhushan by government of India in 2008 for his overall contributions to the field of music. Throughout his life time he received many other honours as well. Khan died on 14 June 2011 in Delhi aged 74. He was unmarried and adopted his nephew Zaki Haidar as his son. Carsten Wick from Germany is one among his major disciples.
Khan was born 1937 in Alwar into a family with strong influence in musical traditions. He belonged to the 7th generation of his family associated with rudra veena, and played a magnificent role in promoting this musical instrument in the present day generation. Many of his ancestors were royal musicians in the courts of north India in the 18th century and later. He is the great-grandson of Rajab Ali Khan, one of the prominent figures associated with Rudra Veena. His grandfather Musharraf Khan and father Sadiq Ali Khan were other musicians who served as court musicians from their family.
Khan grew up in a musical surrounding. He learnt Rudra Veena in Beenkar gharana style of Jaipur. He also learnt vocals at the same period. He learnt music for long 15 years before he started teaching other students. He was the last surviving master of one of the four schools of dhrupad, the Khandar school and one of the rare artists who played rudra veena among his contemporaries. Khan worked at All India Radio, taught the sitar at the University of Delhi for 17 years and also gave private musical lessons to children till his death.
Published: October 06, 2018
Updated: October 06, 2018
