The celebrated music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan, undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at a hospital in Kolkata passed away on Wednesday. The 55-year-old artist, was on a ventilator and was receiving oxygen support.
“We tried our best but failed. He passed away at around 3:45 PM,” an official of the private hospital where Khan was admitted said.
Speaking about Rashid Khan’s death, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said, “This is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can’t believe that Rashid Khan is no more.”
The musician’s health took a downturn after experiencing a cerebral attack last month. The 55-year-old from the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana initially received treatment at Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital. However, at a subsequent stage, he opted to continue his treatment exclusively in Kolkata. According to sources, Khan was initially responding positively to the treatment.
Born in Uttar Pradesh’s Badayun Rashid Khan, who is also the nephew of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, received his initial training from his maternal grand-uncle Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan (1909–1993).