Padma Shri Ustad Gulam Mustafa Khan passes away

Indian classical musician Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan passed away on Sunday, January 17, at the age of 89. Ustad was awarded with Padma Shri , Padma Bhusan, and the Padma Vibhushan . In 2003, he was also awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which is the highest recognition given to practising Indian artists by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Born on March 3, 1931, in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, Khan belonged to a family of celebrated musicians. His mother was the daughter of Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, who was a court musician during the time of King Wajid Ali Shah.His training in Hindustani Classical Music started at very young age of 2. After his father he was trained by Ustaad Fida Hussain Khan — a court singer at the royal durbar of Baroda — and then from Nissar Hussain Khan. 

A connoisseur of music, Ustad belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana of music. The music styles of Rampur, Gwalior and Sahaswan Gharana, therefore, always reflected in his performances.

Ustad passing is being mourned by singers and musicians on social media. He was the mentor of many famous Bollywood singers like Sonu Nigam, Hariharan,Shaan,Geeta Datt, Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar and AR Rahman.