Close To Our Hearts: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali”

Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, also known as “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” who devoted his whole life to keep the flame alive of 600 years old tradition of his family. His family after partition moved from Jalandhar in East Punjab to Faisalabad (Pakistan) in 1948.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passion, aura and Voice intensity had the capability to moist the eyes of listeners. His Qawaali with voice abilities made him the artist of the World. He was born in one nation, however his music ruled in many countries including ours. He still lives in millions of hearts across the world. His journey in the music world was of 25 years. However the intensity of his songs made him “Shahenshah-e-Qawwali” meaning “The King of Kings of Qawwali”

The power of Qawwalis is arcane for many. The enigmatic presence of music by Nusrat used to fill the spirituality that made one travel across another world. Not defined by any boundary his music left everyone speechless and trapped in the charismatic world of Qawwali.

On his birthday, let’s cherish few Qawwalis that are now unheard, as qawwali the devotional music led and lived by Sufis is not an easy task to master.

1. The first musical instrument mastered by Ustaad Nusrat was Tabla.

2. In training he did his “RIYAAZ” 20 hours a day.

3. Master Nusrat was well known for being able to sustain long performances

4. Each year, he performs at two dargahs, one in Lahore and one in Pakpattan.

5. Master Nusrat made his first public performance at the age of 16.

6.He sang in Urdu, Punjabi and Farsi

7. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborated with many Western musicians including Peter Gabriel, Eddie Vedder and Michael Brook.

How our celebrities described his grandiose persona

The place where my voice finishes, Nusrat used to start from that place.

—Sonu Nigam

He used to go and sit by the ocean, and watch it for hours and hours. And one day it occurred to me, that I, as a viewer, am in fact seeing two oceans, for this man himself is an ocean.

—Javed Akhtar

Working with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was the closest I got to god.

—Shekhar Kapoor

On Today’s date singing maestro took birth in the musical world, for many it’s the Earth, however, artists like him are born without boundaries and boundations. If anyone thinks he is not ours, as he was Pakistani, then one can’t understand the love we Indians have for him. If he is theirs, he is ours too truly speaking he belongs to the world.

13 Oct 2015
P.Rawat