Amjad Ali Khan, Sarod Maestro
Sarod Maestro

Amjad Ali Khan

Born 9 October 1945 · Madhya Pradesh

Popularizing the sarod internationally with performances since the 1960s and pioneering fast ekhara taans.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical sarod player, best known for his clear and fast ekhara taans. Khan was born into a classical musical family and has performed internationally since the 1960s. He was awarded India's second highest civilian honor Padma Vibhushan in 2001, India's third highest civilian honor Padma Bhushan in 1991 and Padma Shree in 1975.

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A detail that
surprised us

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The U.S. state of Massachusetts declared April 20 as Amjad Ali Khan Day in 1984, making it one of the few American states to officially honor an Indian classical musician.

The Story

1
🎶 Born in 1945 in Gwalior, Amjad Ali Khan entered the world as Masoom Ali Khan, the youngest of seven children of Hafiz Ali Khan, a court musician who traced his lineage to the legendary Tansen, linking Amjad to a centuries-old musical dynasty.
2
At age 12, in 1957, Khan’s family moved to Delhi when his father was appointed guest of a cultural organization, marking a shift to formal education at Modern School where he studied from 1958 to 1963 alongside rigorous training under his father.
3🌍 In 1963, barely 18, Khan performed his first concert in the United States, beginning an international career that would span decades and include performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and a visiting professorship at the University of New Mexico.
4Khan revolutionized sarod music by inventing rapid melodic passages called ekhara taans, an innovation that remains a signature of his style, distinguishing his performances from traditional sarod renditions.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Amjad Ali Khan performed his first US concert in 1963 at just 18 years old, a remarkable feat given the limited presence of Indian classical instrumentalists abroad at that time.

🖼️

Through the Years

6 photographs from the archives
Amjad Ali Khan performing with Vinod Pathak on Tabla at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata (1979).
Amjad Ali Khan performing with Vinod Pathak on Tabla at Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata (1979).
1979
Amjad Ali Khan performing with his son Amaan Ali Khan in concert (2012).
Amjad Ali Khan performing with his son Amaan Ali Khan in concert (2012).
Amjad Ali Khan with his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan during a public event (2014).
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performing at the IGNCA, Delhi (2020).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Gwalior
Born as Masoom Ali Khan into the Bangash musical family, youngest of seven children of Hafiz Ali Khan.
1945
📚
Education
Family moves to Delhi
Hafiz Ali Khan appointed guest of a cultural organization; family relocates and Amjad enrolls in Modern School.
1957
⚡
Career
First US concert
Amjad Ali Khan performs in the United States for the first time at age 18, beginning an international career.
1963
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Received Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, recognizing his musical contributions.
1975
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Conferred Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian award, for his excellence in classical music.
1991
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Vibhushan
Received Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honor, cementing his status in Indian arts.
2001
⚡
Career
Nobel Peace Prize Concert
Performed 'Raga For Peace' with his sons at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, globalizing Hindustani classical music.
2014
📖
Publication
Published Master on Masters
Authored a reflective book on Indian classical musicians, sharing experiences and insights.
2017
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

In 1984, Massachusetts proclaimed April 20 as Amjad Ali Khan Day, an unusual civic honor for an Indian classical musician outside India.

02 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Khan’s family lineage claims to have invented the sarod, tracing their musical ancestry back six generations to the era of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court musician Tansen.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The 1990 documentary Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, directed by Gulzar, won the Filmfare Award for Best Documentary, highlighting his cultural prominence beyond music circles.

“

"My father always said, ‘Aap sab kuch nahi kar sakte (one can’t do everything).’ I chose to focus entirely on music and surrender to God. I am embarrassed to call it my profession. This is my passion."

— Amjad Ali Khan

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
A Journey of thoughts - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Subhalakshmi Khan
More from this archive
A Journey of thoughts - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Subhalakshmi Khan
01
A Journey of thoughts - Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Subhalakshmi Khan
2001 inDialog interview with Amjad Ali Khan
02
2001 inDialog interview with Amjad Ali Khan
||| Documentary on Ustad Amjad Ali Khan made by Gulzar in 1990 |||
03
||| Documentary on Ustad Amjad Ali Khan made by Gulzar in 1990 |||
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan: Culture is in danger, and world has to realize its value
04
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan: Culture is in danger, and world has to realize its value
Haafiz Ali Khan Awards 1991 | Speech by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Sarod Ghar Museum
05
Haafiz Ali Khan Awards 1991 | Speech by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Sarod Ghar Museum
CONVERSATION - USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN
06
CONVERSATION - USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan ने Punjab Kesari TV से की खास बातचीत, कहा- 'संगीत ने दुनिया को जोड़ा'
07
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan ने Punjab Kesari TV से की खास बातचीत, कहा- 'संगीत ने दुनिया को जोड़ा'
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on Secularism: love my country, I love my people
08
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on Secularism: love my country, I love my people
In conversation with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Classical Indian Sarod Player
09
In conversation with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Classical Indian Sarod Player
To The Point: Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
10
To The Point: Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

🌱 What changed because of them

Amjad Ali Khan transformed the sarod by introducing new playing techniques like the ekhara taans, which expanded its expressive capacity and influenced generations of musicians worldwide. His international performances and collaborations, including at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, brought Hindustani classical music to global audiences, while his efforts to document musical heritage through his book and museum helped preserve the Bangash sarod lineage. His recognition by governments and cultural institutions in India and abroad institutionalized the sarod’s place in world music.

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