Allauddin Khan, Musician & Composer
Musician & Composer

Allauddin Khan

Born 8 October 1862 · Bangladesh — Died 6 September 1972

Founded the Maihar gharana and taught many leading Hindustani classical musicians.

Ustad Allauddin Khan, was an Indian sarod player and multi-instrumentalist, composer and one of the most notable music teachers of the 20th century in Indian classical music. He was also the founder of Maihar gharana school of Hindustani classical music. For a generation many of his students, across different instruments like sitar and violin, dominated Hindustani classical music and became one of the most famous exponents of the form ever, including his son Ali Akbar Khan.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Allauddin Khan was a master of numerous instruments, including the sarod, sitar, flute, piccolo, mandolin, and banjo, learning them from various teachers, which is rare even among classical musicians.

The Story

1
In 1872, a 10-year-old Allauddin Khan ran away from his home in Shibpur, Brahmanbaria, to join a jatra troupe, diving into the rich folk music genres of Bengal such as baul and kirtan.
2
🌟 By 1877, he became a disciple of Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya in Kolkata, dedicating twelve years to mastering sargam before shifting focus to instrumental music with guidance from Amritalal Dutt and Hazari Ustad.
3In 1907, Allauddin Khan founded the Maihar Band, an orchestra teaching music to orphaned children, which later led to his appointment as court musician to the Maharaja of Maihar, where he innovated the Maihar gharana style.
4🎼 In 1935, he toured Europe with Uday Shankar's ballet troupe, exposing Indian classical music to international audiences and later contributing to the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre in Almora.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1958
Padma Bhushan
1971
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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At age 10, Allauddin Khan ran away from home to join a jatra troupe, immersing himself in diverse folk genres like jari, sari, and bhatiyali in Bengal, a rare start for a classical maestro.

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Through the Years

5 photographs from the archives
Allauddin Khan at the first music conference after India's independence (1948).
Allauddin Khan at the first music conference after India's independence (1948).
1948
Ustad Allauddin Khan playing sarod at Karjon Hall, accompanied by Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan (1955).
Allauddin Khan with Abbasuddin and Qazi Motahar Hossain at Bordhoman House (1955).
Ustad Allauddin Khan attending a music conference with artist Jainul Abedin at Bordhoman House (1955).
Indian postage stamp featuring Ustad Allauddin Khan (1999).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Shibpur, Brahmanbaria
Allauddin Khan was born into a Bengali Muslim family in the village of Shibpur, then part of British India (now Bangladesh).
1862
📚
Education
Became disciple of Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya
Met physician Kedarnath in Kolkata, who introduced him to Gopal Krishna Bhattacharya, under whom he studied sargam for 12 years.
1877
⚡
Career
Founded Maihar Band
Established an orchestra teaching music to orphaned children in Maihar, marking the start of his association with the Maharaja of Maihar.
1907
⚡
Career
European tour with Uday Shankar troupe
Traveled to Europe performing with Uday Shankar’s ballet troupe, exposing Indian classical music to international audiences.
1935
⚡
Career
Established Maihar Music College
Set up a college of music in Maihar to formalize teaching and nurture the next generation of musicians.
1955
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
Awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India recognizing his contributions to Indian classical music.
1958
🏅
Award
Received Padma Vibhushan
Honored with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, near the end of his life.
1971
🕊️
Death
Passed away
Ustad Allauddin Khan died, leaving behind a legacy through his disciples and the Maihar gharana.
1972
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1907, he established the Maihar Band, an orchestra for orphaned children, pioneering music education linked to social welfare in India’s princely states.

02 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Allauddin Khan learned instruments like the piccolo and banjo from Amritalal Dutt, a cousin of Swami Vivekananda, showing cross-cultural musical influences in his training.

03 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In 1935, he toured Europe with Uday Shankar's ballet troupe, marking one of the earliest cultural exchanges spreading Indian classical music to Western audiences.

No quote recorded for Allauddin Khan yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
A Documentary on Ustad Alauddin Khan
·YouTube
More from this archive
A Documentary on Ustad Alauddin Khan
01
A Documentary on Ustad Alauddin Khan
YouTube
Allauddin Khan - Live - Video Recording - Ravi Shankar - Master - Disciple
02
Allauddin Khan - Live - Video Recording - Ravi Shankar - Master - Disciple
YouTube
Tribute to baba alauddin khan saheb:- the founder of Maihar gharana
03
Tribute to baba alauddin khan saheb:- the founder of Maihar gharana
YouTube
Pandit Ravi Shankar With Ustad Allauddin Khan
04
Pandit Ravi Shankar With Ustad Allauddin Khan
YouTube
Baba Ustad Allauddin Khansahib’s Instruments in his home in Maihar
05
Baba Ustad Allauddin Khansahib’s Instruments in his home in Maihar
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Allauddin Khan founded the Maihar gharana, blending traditional and modern elements, which became a pivotal school in Hindustani classical music. His establishment of the Maihar Band and later the Maihar music college created institutional platforms that trained orphaned children and future maestros. His disciples, including Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, became internationally celebrated, spreading Indian classical music worldwide.

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