Ustad Alladiya Khan
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Ustad Alladiya Khan saheb was one of the most distinguished of his time thus earning him the grand title of Gana Samraat (Emperor of Music). He is mainly known for his creation of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana- a gharana based on the Agra Gharana.
Alladiya Khan was born in 1885 to a family of musicians in Rajasthan. Though his father Ahmet Khan died early in Alladiya's life, his uncle, Jehangir Khan (of the Agra Gharana), taught him dhrupad for 5 years and then Khayal for another 8 years.
He served in the court of various kings of Rajasthan including that of Amlata. He sung so well and so much for the kings that he nearly lost his voice due to hours of daily singing. While trying to regain his voice he developed a new and profound style of singing by which he could sing without compromising the purity of raga but the passage, taans, and creativity of singing the raag. Later he settled down in Kolhapur as the court musician of the local king. In 1922 he moved back to Bombay due to the king's demise.
His principle disciples were his younger brother Ustad Haider Khan, and his own sons, Ustad Manji Khan saheb and Ustad Burji Khan saheb (both taught Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur). Manji Khan, the second son, died early in 1937. It was Bhurji Khan, the youngest son, who passed on the gayaki of his father.
In Mumbai, Alladiya Khan saheb's prime disciples were Smt. Kesarbai Kerkar, Gaanatapaswini Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar and Nivrittibua Sarnaik.
Khan Saheb died at age 91.
