Ustad Aashish Khan, born on December 5, 1939, was among the maestros whose life seemed to have drawn very much in tune with what his loved sarod meant to him. From the royal Senia Maihar Gharana, he had, one could say, the unlikeliest of inheritances through his grandfather, Ustad Allauddin Khan and his legendary life and work into unforeseen dimensions of music. No less than a genius virtuoso on the sarod, Aashish crossed genres and collaborated across and upon continents.
He started learning music at the tender age of five under the tutelage of his grandfather, with intense training by his father, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, and aunt, Annapurna Devi. This set him soaring in the public arena early on in life; his first appearance on All India Radio was when he was 13 years old, and within a few years, he had performed at such prominent forums as the Tansen Music Conference.
Although he was born of Indian classical music, Aashish Khan’s artistry hardly stayed in bounds. Along with collaboration with maestros like Ravi Shankar and international icons such as The Beatles, Eric Clapton, and Alice Coltrane, he took the artistic fusion to new limits. For the cinema, under Ravi Shankar’s guidance, he also worked on cinematic marvels such as Satyajit Ray’s Jalsaghar and Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi. His works with the Western ensembles of Shanti and The Third Eye showcased his ability to blend the traditional essence of the sarod with experimental sounds.
Aashish Khan is notable for his work in infusing Indian classical music into modern genres. During the 1980s, he and his brother, Pranesh Khan, went into disco music with the album Disco Jazz, which included the hit “Aaj Shanibar.” This bold step into popular culture defined his eclectic music vision.
As an instructor, Aashish taught many students around the world. He taught at the California Institute of the Arts and the University of California at Santa Cruz as an adjunct professor of Indian classical music. His disciples continue to spread the magic of the sarod, carrying forward the legacy of an excellent teacher. He also established the Aashish Khan School of World Music in Kolkata, ensuring that the richness of his musical lineage would be maintained for generations.
All this followed him throughout his long life and career. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, a Grammy nomination for Golden Strings of the Sarod, and even the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal Asiatic Society came out, echoing his commitment to blending tradition with innovation.
Aashish Khan’s personal life was not without controversy, however. Publicly switching from Muslim to his Hindu Brahmin roots ignited debate within his family and beyond. His father, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, publicly denied these assertions, creating a rift in underlining the complexities of heritage and identity. Yet Aashish Khan remained steadfast in his pursuit of musical and cultural exploration.
Aashish Khan’s journey ended on November 14, 2024, when he died in Los Angeles at 84. He was laid to rest in California, his final resting place a testament to the global reach of his music.
From the soulful strains of sarod to the pulsating beats of disco, Ustad Aashish Khan was the one who opened up new dimensions in Indian classical music. His life and work remind us that art knows no bounds, only infinite possibilities.
