Ailing music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan dies at 55 after long battle with cancer

The classical singer, who belongs to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, is the great-grandson of gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan. His health condition deteriorated following a cerebral attack last month.

Kolkata: Eminent Indian music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan passed away in Kolkata on Tuesday. He was 55.

Khan had faced a cerebral attack in November. Thereafter, he had been under treatment for prostate cancer at a hospital in Kolkata. The doctors had decided a conservative treatment approach, and he, initially, showed signs of recovery. An infection, however, developed, while he was under treatment.

In the early hours, he was shifted to a ventilator, and his blood pressure reduced. He passed away at 3.45pm on Tuesday.

Khan’s body will be kept at Peace World (mortuary) on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, 9.30 am onwards, fans and followers can have a last glimpse and pay homage to Khan at Rabindra Sadan, where the body will be taken and kept before the last rites.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also requested Khan’s fans to visit the venue to pay respects. Around 1 pm, a gun-salute will be offered by the Kolkata Police. Thereafter, the last rites will take place.

Shocked at Khan's passing, Banerjee said that it was unimaginable that the maestro was no more, and stood by Khan’s family in the moment of grief.

Banerjee recalled Khan’s affectionate voice messages. “I had told him that he had no reason to worry. I am taking the responsibility of your treatment. For the last two-to-three years, we took up the responsibility of his treatment,” the chief minister said, adding that she came to know that Khan was in a position to talk till last night.

Banerjee, who has been on the move, rushed to the hospital after completing official work at the secretariat. The treatment was on for two-to-three years, she said, adding that Khan had shown signs of improvement.

“A hugely respected vocalist with unparalleled genius in creating music, he made us proud by settling here and making Bengal his home. He and Soma, his wife, and son Armaan, and the whole family, were close to us and allowed us to be on their side in the maestro’s last journey in life,” Banerjee posted on X.

Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Badayun in 1968, Khan offered his first concert when he was 11 years old. He moved to Kolkata at the age of 10. A Padma Shri (2006) and Padma Bhushan (2022) awardee, Khan was widely acknowledged for his work. “Ustad Rashid Khan got our highest civilian award Banga Bibhushan and our Sangeet Mahasamman too. He was attached to several of our state cultural bodies in advisory capacity,” Banerjee mentioned on X.