08/09/2025
Remembering Ustad RAJAB ALI KHAN (Born 3 September 1874 - Died 8 January 1959), eminent Indian Hindustani Classical Music VOCALIST, on his Birth Anniversary today. Rajab Ali learned music from his father Mughal Khan in the tradition of Bade Mohammad Khan, and from Bande Ali Khan Beenkar. In this way his style was a mix of the Jaipur and Kirana styles. He was a court musician of Dewas and Kolhapur. He also performed on concert tours. He was also a court musician of Ram Singh II of Jaipur State.
In 1909 he was conferred the title of Sangeet Ratna Bhushan by the Maharaja of Mysore, and in 1954 he received a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. His last big concert was held in 1957, in Bombay.
Rajab Ali was known as a master khayaliya but he was also a noted player of Rudra Veena, Sitar and Jaltarang. As a khyaliya Rajab Ali was known for his vistar full of melodic patterns as well as his very fast and intricate taans.
His disciples include his nephew Amanat Khan, Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik, Ganpatrao Dewaskar, Krishna Shankar Shukla, Krishnarao Majumdar, Rajabhau Deo, Yasin Khan (sarangi player), Alladiya Khan (sarangi player, maternal uncle of Amir Khan), and Jyotiram of the Mewati gharana. Amir Khan was also influenced by his taans.
