Bhurji Khan

Bhurji Khan
Birth name Shamsuddin Ghulam Ahmad Khan
Born 1890 (1890)[1]
Bundi, North-Western Provinces, British India
Origin Bundi, India
Died 1950 (aged 59–60)
Mumbai, Bombay Presidency, British India
Genres Khayal, Bhajans, Thumris
Occupation(s) Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Instruments Vocalist of Classical music
Years active 1900–1950

Ustad Shamsuddin "Bhurji" Khan (1890–1950) was a Hindustani Classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana founded by his father, Ustad Alladiya Khan.[1]

Early life

Ustad Bhurji Khan was the third and the youngest son of Ustad Alladiya Khan. Despite this, Ustad Alladiya Khan felt that Ustad Bhurji Khan was the most capable of his children.

Bhurji's voice was excellent and had a good range. Among the three brothers his voice was the best. He was also intelligent. He used to listen to his brother's training and sing all the compositions.

— Ustad Alladiya Khan[2]

Health

In his late youth, Ustad Bhurji Khan fell seriously ill with influenza while visiting Uniara, Rajasthan.

He used to suffer from nose-bleeds. Four or five bowls of blood would flow out from his nose in a day. His brain became weak. He could not get good treatment in the village. They would apply pandu mud and pour jars of water over his head constantly. Because of this he had a severe cold and he lost that quality of his voice for ever.

— Ustad Alladiya Khan[2]

Musical style and training

Ustad Bhurji Khan's illness affected his musical growth. Brain-damage from the illness contributed to his forgetfulness and memory loss. As a result, his father abandoned training him, where he continued his musical training with his uncle, Ustad Haider Khan. Despite Ustad Haider Khan's persistence, it was only until Ustad Bhurji Khan took to teaching that his memory solidified and his musical growth resumed. After this, his training with his father also resumed.

Since his illness Bhurji suffered from weakness in the brain. He could not grasp anything. He would forget the compositions taught to him. One day I got very angry and I snatched away the Tanpura from his hands... Singing in the temple and teaching that girl made a great difference to Bhurji Khan's singing. One day I heard him in the temple. He was singing quite well. I was pleased. I thanked Allah. My disappointment disappeared. I put the tanpura back in his hands. His training resumed.

— Ustad Alladiya Khan[3]

Students

Ustad Bhurji Khan was instrumental in expanding the presence of the Jaipur-Atrauli gayaki in Hindustani Classical music. Among his many disciples are Madhusudhan Kanetkar, Gajananbua Joshi, Madhukar Sadolikar, Wamanrao Sadolikar, and his own son, Baba Azizuddin Khan.

Ustad Bhurji Khan's famous disciple was Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur. After the death of his elder brother, Ustad Manji Khan, Ustad Bhurji Khan agreed to teach Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur under his father's command.[4]

Death

Ustad Bhurji Khan died in 1950 after a prolonged illness.

Legacy

Like his famous father, Ustad Bhurji Khan did not leave behind any recordings.

References

  1. 1 2 Profile of Ustad Bhurji Khan on SwarGanga Music Foundation website, Retrieved 23 April 2017
  2. 1 2 Khan, Azizuddin (2000), My Life: Sangeet Samrat Khansahab Alladiya Khan, Rupa & Co., pp. 87–91, ISBN 81-86017-33-X
  3. ↑ Khan, Azizuddin (2000), My Life: Sangeet Samrat Khansahab Alladiya Khan, Rupa & Co., p. 91, ISBN 81-86017-33-X
  4. ↑ Tribute to a Maestro, Mallikarjun Mansur on ITC Sangeet Research Academy website, Retrieved 23 April 2017
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