The best ever classical vocalist of the twin cities, Ustad Rasheed Akhtar Khan Gwalior, popularly known as Ustad R A Khan, breathed his last the other day. He was 65. Besides his near and dear ones, professor of music Mehfooz Khokar, some other prominent people and his pupils attended his funeral. The gifted R A Khan took his lessons from his father G A Gwalior and Feroz Nizami. At a very young age, he made his impression on the classical vocalists and listeners. He performed at all the major radio and TV stations of Pakistan. R A Khan was a man without airs.
I used to ask him as why is he not making efforts for further recognition as he had all the qualities, he would simply say, “I cannot knock at the doors of the people at the helms of the affair, out of question.” He was very simple and affectionate, he was just one of the few musicians who would not make spiteful remarks about his rivals or competitors.
Once PNCA celebrated Roshan Ara Begum’s anniversary where R A Khan performed Zartabi raag immaculately. Mehdi Hassan and Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan of Sham Chorasi approached and saluted him and said, “After Roshan Ara Begum, only you could sing “Zartabi” with such perfection.”
He deserves to be remembered, at least in our hearts.
TAHIR KHAN
Islamabad