2016-04-02 Sat

Today – on 2nd April 2016 – is 114th Birth Anniversary of Gazal Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan. Born in Kasur Patiala Gharana, the Hindusthani Classical Music is their family heritage.

His father Ustad Ali Baksh Khan was a famous singer in a West Punjabi family of musical heritage. Gulam Ali Khan started learning Indian Classical Music at the age of 5, from his paternal uncle. He started his career by singing a few compositions of his late father.

He became popular as a vocalist after his debut concert in Kolkata. However, he truly introduced himself to lovers of classical music at Vikramaditya Sangeet Parishad held at Bombay in 1944. The Marwa Rag and Thumri presented by him gripped the hearts of the listeners with the melodious enchantment of his voice.

After the Partition, Ustad settled in Mumbai. Though he stayed away from the film industry, he agreed to sing in the Movie Mughal e, Azam. The songs became an instant hit on the box office.

He was awarded many awards such as “Sangeet Natak Akademi Award”, Padma Bhushan – 1962, Ataab -e- Mosque, Sur Devta Sangeet Samraat and much more.

The government of India issued a special commemorative stamp with the denomination of Rs.5.00. The stamp features the portrait of Bade Ghulam Ali Khan with an Indian Classical Music instrument.

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