Tabla maestro Ustad Bashir Khan passes away

Ustad Bashir Ahmed Khan, one of the most prominent tabla players of the country, passed away in Karachi on Thursday after a brief illness.

Indian classical music aficionado and producer Sharif Awan told The News that he met Ustad Bashir a few weeks ago and he was in perfect health then. Four to five days ago, he fell ill which resulted in his death.

His funeral prayers will be offered today after the Juma prayers at the Masjid-e-Aqsa in Nusrat Bhutto Colony. The late musician hailed from a family from Rajasthan. He was settled in Karachi where he performed the tabla and taught the instrument for decades. For many years, he taught tabla at the National Academy of Performing Arts. Yousuf Bashir, a notable tabla player from Karachi, is one of his many students.

Awan said Ustad Bashir belonged to the Punjab Gharana of the tabla through the branch of Gharana initiated by Ustad Nabi Bakhsh, who developed a style somewhat distinct from the style of his contemporary Ustad Qadir Bakhsh. Ustad Bashir was a disciple of another major tabla player of the country, Ustad Karim Bakhsh Pairna, who learnt the instrument from Ustad Nabi Bakhsh.

The musicologist said Ustad Bashir was a globally recognised tabla artiste who developed an individual style of playing the instrument. Awan specifically praised the Sangat (accompaniment) of Ustad Bashir, stating that the late master would adapt to the style of the vocalist or instrumentalist he accompanied, which beautified the overall performance. He said among the tabla players of Pakistan, Ustad Shaukat Hussain and Ustad Bashir were known for their great skill in doing Sangat with other musicians.

Awan also spoke of the humble disposition of the late tabla player, stating that he never ran after fame. On a Facebook post, Lahore-based classical vocalist Aizaz Sohail prayed for Ustad Bashir’s soul. He recalled Ustad Bashir doing Sangat with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty when the latter visited Pakistan in 1984.

Waqas Gulab, one of the students of Ustad Bashir who frequently performs in the public, said the late maestro was known as Ustad Bashir Khan Karachi Walay in the musical circles. He added that earlier, when the Ustad was with Ustad Abdul Karim Bakhsh Pairna in Quetta, he was famous as Ustad Bashir Khan Quetta Walay.

Gulab said Ustad Pairna was proud of Ustad Bashir and called him and his other student Ustad Nazir Khan as his Sher (lions). The young tabla player stated that Ustad Bashir’s most favourite taal was Tintaal and the ‘Girdhar’ Bol he employed in Tintaal were famous.

Gulab, however, lamented that Ustad Bashir was not valued enough as he continued to live on modest means. He remembered his Ustad as a dervish and kind teacher who would always be missed by his students and the lovers of his art.