Allauddin Khan

A devout Hindu and Muslim, Allauddin Khan (born Padma-vibhusan Acharya Allauddin Khan) was one of the most important North Indian classical musicians of the 20th century. While his musical career spanned more than 100 years, Khan was equally influential as a mentor and teacher of Ravi Shankar; his son Ali Akbar Khan; and his daughter and Shankar's wife, Annapurna Devi. A native of East Bengal (Bangladesh), Khan enjoyed a financially secure childhood. Although his parents had little money, they owned land and many animals. Descended from Mian Tansen, a 16th century musician in the court of Emperor Akbar, the family had close ties to music. Khan's father played sitar while an older brother, Aftabuddin Khan, played flute, harmonium, tabla, pakhawaj, and dotora. As a child, Allauddin Khan would sneak into the family's music room and experiment with his brothers' instruments. Despite his obvious talents, Khan was discouraged from playing music by his father. Running away from home at the age of eight, Khan met up with a group of itinerant musicians that was heading toward Dacca. Telling them that he was an orphan, he was accepted into the group. He soon learned to play Indian drums including tabla, dhol, and pakhawaj, and wind instruments including clarinet, cornet, and trumpet. Leaving the group after six years, Khan traveled to Calcutta and apprenticed himself to a Bengali singer, Nulo Gopal. For the next seven years, he was instructed in the traditional style that emphasized solfeggio, scales, and technique.

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