Ustad Ustad, ustadh, ustaz or ustadz (abbreviated as Ust., Ut. or Ud.; from Persian language, Persian ''ustād'') is an honorific title used in West Asia, North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is used in various languages, incl ...

Shafaat Ahmed Khan (20 May 1954 – 24 July 2005) New Delhi, India, was one of the leading tabla maestros in the field of

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

. Shafaat Ahmed Khan came from the "Dilli Gharana" (

Delhi gharana The Delhi or Dilli Gharana, is a tabla traditional playing style, "regarded by many as the fountainhead of all the tabla gharanas" and known for being the first and oldest gharana playing style of tabla. It also is one of the six most common sty ...

) and was the son and disciple of tabla maestro Ustad Chhamma Khan who was a prominent exponent of the Dilli Gharana. Shafaat Ahmed Khan was famous for his mastery over clear 'bols' and melodious tone of the tabla, accompaniment (sangat) and systematic improvisation. During his active years he was one of the leading tabla maestros of India. Shafaat Ahmed Khan was a recipient of "Padma Shree" award in 2003. He performed concerts all around the world with classical artistes like

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, Nikhil Banerjee,

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Kishori Amonkar Kishori Amonkar (10 April 1932 – 3 April 2017) was an Hindustani classical music, Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, Jaipur Gharana, or a community of musicians sharing a distinctive musical style. She is cons ...

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, besides performances as solo artist. Shafaat Ahmed Khan also played various taal vadya kacheris and jugalbandis with carnatic artists like Vikku Vinayakram, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Balamurali Krishna, Vellore Ramabhadran, Sivamani, Shankar Mahadevan and others, internationally. Shafaat Ahmed Khan was popular among artists because of his humble nature and down to earth attitude.

Awards and recognition

Shafaat Ahmed Khan was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian award, "Padma Shri" in 2003.

Death

He died at age 51 on 24 July 2005 after being diagnosed with acute Hepatitis-B.

References

External links

Delhi School Of Music (tabla players)
Outlook (magazine) {{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Shafaat Ahmed 1954 births 2005 deaths Tabla players Indian percussionists Sportspeople from New Delhi 20th-century Indian drummers Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Delhi gharana