Ali Akbar Khan was a master of the sarod and a teacher on two continents. This article covers his family, his career, his honours and the facts exams test.
At a glance
Four key facts on this topic
Contents
Who he was and what he did
Short Answer
1.1 Who was Ali Akbar Khan?
Ali Akbar Khan was one of India’s greatest sarod players. He was born on 14 April 1922 in Shibpur, now in Bangladesh. His father and guru was Ustad Allauddin Khan.
He began training at the age of three. He later settled in the United States and taught there for decades. He died in 2009.
Think it through: What is the sarod?
It is a fretless, lute-like instrument with 25 strings. A goatskin stretched over a wooden body covers its face.
Family and Gurus
2.1 Who taught him?
His father, Ustad Allauddin Khan, taught him. His uncle, Fakir Aftabuddin Khan, also taught him. Both belonged to the Senia gharana.
A gharana is a family lineage of musical style. The Senia line is traced back to Tansen. Allauddin Khan received the Padma Vibhushan in 1971.
2.2 Who else was in the family?
His sister, Annapurna Devi, was a famous surbahar player. Annapurna Devi received the Padma Bhushan in 1977.
His sons Ashish Khan and Dhyanesh Khan became his pupils and performers.
Think it through: Why does the Senia gharana matter in exams?
It links Khan to Tansen and to Allauddin Khan of Maihar.
Career Path
3.1 What are the main steps?
- The state of Jodhpur gave him the title of Ustad. This account comes from his family.
- In 1955, violinist Yehudi Menuhin asked him to visit the United States. He played at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
- In 1956, he founded the first Ali Akbar College of Music in Calcutta.
- In 1965, he came to Berkeley, California, to teach. The college there was founded in 1967 and moved to Marin County in 1968.
- He also composed film music. Examples are Satyajit Ray’s Debi and Tapan Sinha’s Kshudhita Pashan.
Think it through: Was 1955 his debut?
No. The record says it was his first visit to the United States, not his first concert anywhere.
Honours and the 1971 concert
Honours
4.1 Which honours did he receive?
| Honour | Year | Body |
|---|---|---|
| Sangeet Natak Akademi Award | 1963 | Sangeet Natak Akademi |
| Padma Bhushan | 1967 | Government of India |
| Padma Vibhushan | 1989 | Government of India |
| MacArthur Fellowship | 1991 | MacArthur Foundation |
| Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship | 1992 | Sangeet Natak Akademi |
| National Heritage Fellowship | 1997 | US National Endowment for the Arts |
The Fellowship is different from the 1963 Award.
He also received five Grammy nominations. He won none of them.
Think it through: Which two honours do students swap?
The 1963 Akademi Award and the 1992 Akademi Fellowship. The Padma Bhushan (1967) and Padma Vibhushan (1989) also get swapped.
Concert for Bangladesh
5.1 What was the concert?
The Concert for Bangladesh took place on 1 August 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York. George Harrison and Ravi Shankar staged it.
Performers included George Harrison, Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and Leon Russell. The funds raised helped children in need. Royalties from the film and album still go to UNICEF.
Think it through: Did Harrison learn the sarod from Khan?
No source in this article says so. Harrison’s close link was with Ravi Shankar. Do not assume a teacher link.
Exam practice
Exam Traps
6.1 Which facts do students mix up?
- Padma Bhushan 1967 and Padma Vibhushan 1989 are two separate honours.
- The Akademi Award is from 1963. The Akademi Fellowship is from 1992.
- He was named a MacArthur Fellow in 1991.
- 1955 was his first US visit, not his first concert.
- He had five Grammy nominations and no wins.
Remember this
- Born: 14 April 1922, Shibpur, now in Bangladesh.
- Gharana: Senia. Father and guru: Allauddin Khan.
- Akademi: Award 1963, Fellowship 1992.
- Padma: Bhushan 1967, Vibhushan 1989.
- Abroad: MacArthur 1991, NEA fellowship 1997, five Grammy nominations.
Explain it back: Why is the 1955 trip called his first US visit and not his debut?
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