Ustad AllaUddin Khan is one of the gems of Musical
world. Born in 1862 at Shibpur village in Brahmanbaria (Today, it is a
part of Bangladesh), Alla-uddin Khan has been raised to the deserved
regard of a Baba (father). The great Indian Sarod player is also
renowned as a multi-instrumentalist. One of the best teachers of music,
himself took his coaching from the great Wazir Khan.
Since childhood, Alla-uddin was fond of music and escaped from home to
join Bengali theater at the age of ten. His interest for music got more
intense with his experience in theater. Following theater, he learned
music under the guidance of various musical maestros namely Gopal
Krishna Bhattacharya, Amritalal Dutt and worked in Kolkata's Star
Theatre. Here, Alla-uddin met Mr. Lobo and took training of European
classical violin from him.
The theme of Sarod occupied the mind of Alauddin Khan, when he got the
chance to attend a concert of Ahmed Ali Khan (a student of Asghar Ali
Khan). After seeing his intense desire to learn Sarod, Ahmed Ali Khan
started giving him the lessons of Sarod. After taking guidance for five
years, Alauddin went to Senia Gharana (Tansen school of music), the
popular school of music in northern part of India. Soon after this, he
became the musician of court in Maihar Gharana (Estate) of Brijnath
Singh Maharaja in the Central Province.
In the time, when Alla-uddin was working as a court musician, he totally
changed the Maihar Gharana, celebrated for Indian classical music. Due
to this fact, many a times Alla-uddin is regarded as its creator. At
this time, Hindustani instrumental music observed a major change because
Allauddin incorporated Beenbaj, Dhrupad Ang (Been), Surbahar (bass
sitar) and Sur-sringar (bass sarod) in the class of classical
instruments.
Baba Alla-uddin created many ragas to add the Indian music and gave
various sarod concerts. He didn't work upon only on Sarod but on other
Indian musical instruments too. For his mind-blowing contribution to the
Indian music, he was honored by Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1952,
'Padma Bushan' in 1958 and 'Padma Vibhushan' in 1971. In 1955, Baba
established a Maihar College of Music. In 1972, Alla-uddin Khan died at
the age of 110. The contribution made by Ustad Alla-uddin to the Indian
music is incredible and he has established a niche for himself.
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