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Allauddin Khan. Photo by Prof. Rafiqul Islam on

Top 10 Facts about Allauddin Khan

Allauddin Khan who is also popularly known as Baba Allauddin Khan was a Bengali sarod player and multi-instrumentalist and composer. Khan was one of the most notable music teachers of the 20th century in Indian classical music.

He was born in 1862 with his birth date and month not clearly known nor noted anywhere. Khan was born in Shibpur village in Brahmanbaria which is present-day Bangladesh.

The father of Khan who was known as Sabdar Hossain Khan was a musician. His mother’s history is not also clearly captured in the history of his upbringing.

Khan got his first music lessons from his elder brother Fakir Aftabuddin Khan. Fakir Aftabuddin Khan was also a talented singer who also played various types of instruments which Allauddin Khan learnt.

At a very tender age, Allauddin Khan ran away from home and joined a Jatra party. A Jatra party is a popular folk-theatre form of Odia theatre that is commonly found and spread throughout most of Odia, Bengali-speaking areas.

Khan was exposed to a variety of folk genres which include jari, sari, baul, bhatiyali, kirtan and Panchali. This is how Allauddin Khan got to learn more about music and became a multi-instrumentalist.

Here are the top 10 Facts about Allauddin Khan;

1. Khan was born into a Family of Music Enthusiast

Allauddin Khan was born and raised in Shibpur village located in present-day Bangladesh. He grew up with all his family members even though a little bit is known about his father and elder brother.

Sabdar Hossain Khan, the father of Allauddin Khan was a renowned musician. The father of Allauddin was not the only music enthusiast in their family.

The elder brother of Allauddin, Fakir Aftabuddin Khan was also a great music enthusiast. He took Khan through his first music lessons as he (Allauddin) grew up.

2. Allauddin ran away from Home at the Age of Ten

Allauddin Khan grew up as a music lover with his interest growing too. At the age of ten, Allauddin Khan decided to take another step in life.

He decided to run away from his home and join a Jatra party. Here, Allauddin Khan was exposed more to a variety of folk genres. Some of these genres that Allauddin was exposed to include jari, sari, baul, bhatiyali, kirtan and Panchali.

He later went to Kolkata where he met a physician named Kedarnath. Kedarnath helped him become a disciple of Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya who was also known as Nulo Gopal. Nulo Gopal was a notable musician of Kolkata in 1877.

3. He became a Disciple of Nova for 12 Years Before his Death

Abbasuddin, Ustad Alauddin Khan and Qazi Motahar Hossain in front of the Bordhoman house in winter 1955. Photo by Prof. Rafiqul Islam on

While in Kolkata, Allauddin Khan maintained his loyalty to one teacher. He was introduced to Gopal Krishna and who he served for quite a long time.

Allauddin was under there guidance of Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya as his disciple for a very long time. For twelve years, Allauddin Khan was under the guidance of Gopal and he had to practice Sargam under him.

4. Khan Learned to Play Many Indigenous and Foreign Musical Instruments after his Master’s Death

Winter 1955. Ustad Alauddin Khan playing sharod in Karjon hall, accompanied by Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan playing setar. Photo by Prof. Rafiqul Islam on

During the twelve years under Gopal, Allauddin Khan never knew how to play several musical instruments. However, he got some freedom after Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya passed.

Allauddin Khan turned into instrumental music after the death of his master. He learned how to play several indigenous and foreign musical instruments.

Some of these musical instruments include the sitar, flute, piccolo, mandolin, banjo and many more. He learnt these skills from a cousin of Swami Vivekananda and the music director of the Star Theatre.

Allauddin Khan also learnt how to play sanai, naquara, tiquara and jagajhampa from Hazari Ustad. Nandababu also taught Allauddin Khan how to play pakhawaj, mridang and tabla.

5. He became a Court Musician and Laid Foundation of Modern Maihar Gharana

Khan travelled to Maihar and met Suraj Sahai Saxena. At this moment, Khan was so poor and had to be taken into the shelter by Suraj. He lived with Suraj for two odd years and practised music with Shehnai.

While in Maihar, Allauddin Khan became a Court musician for the Maharaja of Maihar. He, later on, laid the foundation of a modern Maihar Gharana.

This was successful in developing several ragas. The ragas were a combination of the bass sitar and bass sarod with more traditional instruments and setting up an orchestra.

6. Allauddin Khan Established a College of Music in Maihar

After years of living under Suraj Sahai Saxena, Allauddin Khan started becoming more stable and independent. His fame got broader across the country as he also toured several countries in Europe.

In 1955, Allauddin Khan made a huge step forward in his life. He established a college of music in Maihar where some of his recordings are made at the All India Radio.

7. Khan was Awarded the Highest, Second and Third Highest Honours in India

Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan with Three Distinguished Indian Musicians. Photo by Mehndi Hasan on

The contribution of Allauddin Khan was becoming wider across the country. His success was also appreciated and earned him several awards.

In 1954, 1958 and 1971, Allauddin Khan was awarded the highest, second and third highest awards in India. In 1954, Khan was given the Sangeet Natak Akademi award which is the highest honour for a lifetime contribution to Indian music.

He was given the Padma Bhushan award, India’s third highest honour in 1958. In 1971, Khan was given the Padma Vibhushan award which is India’s second highest civilian honour.

8. His Kin became Renowned Musicians

The personal life of Allauddin Khan is not noted. However, some of his Kin is known for being popular Musicians.

The son of Khan Ali Akbar Khan, his daughter Annapurna Devi, nephew Raja Hossain Khan and grandson Aashish Khan became great musicians. Other than his kin, Allauddin Khan left behind several disciples including Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, V.G. Jog, Vasant Rai and many more.

9. The House of Allauddin Khan was Restored to Artists Retreat Area

The house of Ustad Allauddin Khan. Photo by Ankit Saha on

The legacy of Allauddin Khan is still alive and well preserved. He had a house in Maihar where he had established himself.

Ambica Beri restored the house of Allauddin Khan. It became part of a development that includes an artists and writers retreat area.

10. Allauddin Khan used to take care of Disabled Beggars

Kamrul Hasan, Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan, Shilpacharjo Jainul Abedin, Sardar Joinuddin and others. Photo by Prof. Rafiqul Islam on

After running from his home at the age of ten and finding himself poor in Maihar, Allauddin Khan had the virtue of humility. He extended a helping hand after he established himself well.

Allauddin Khan used to take care of disabled beggars the same way he was taken in when he had nothing. His virtues will always be a great thing to look up to.