The name of Ustad Amir Khan will always remain immortal in the field of Hindustani classical music. The country is remembering him on his death anniversary on 13 February. There was a time when due to the ignorance of some people, he was thrown off the stage, but he used time as his weapon and proved himself to be the strongest link of Hindustani classical music.

Ustad Amir Khan was born on 15 August 1912 in a musical family in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His father Shahmeer Khan was a Sarangi player and was associated with the Holkar court of Indore. His grandfather Changa Khan had been a singer in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar. Since childhood, Amir Khan grew up in an atmosphere of harmony, but his mother’s death at the age of nine made him sensitive from within.

Initially his father taught him Sarangi, but he was inclined towards singing. After this he was given deep training in singing. He also learned tabla, which strengthened his sense of rhythm. Big musicians of the country used to come and go in the gatherings organized at home. This environment gave a different direction to Amir Khan’s singing.

In 1934, he reached Bombay and started singing on stage, but the initial times were very difficult for him. His singing was slow, serious and staccato, which the common listeners could not immediately understand. At a music concert, organizers asked her to stop singing after just 15 minutes. The audience suggested him to sing Thumri, but Amir Khan refused. It was not possible for him to compromise with music.

By combining the traditions of Khayal and Dhrupad, he created his own style, which later came to be known as Indore Gharana. His singing was said to be introverted. He stayed away from show off on stage and opened his notes slowly.

Although he was a staunch follower of classical music, he still brought classical music to the common people by singing in films. The songs sung by him in films like ‘Baiju Bawra’, ‘Shabab’, ‘Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje’ and ‘Goonj Uthi Shehnai’ are still remembered. These films took classical music to every home.

Ustad Amir Khan was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the President’s Award and the Padma Bhushan for his contributions. He died in a road accident in Kolkata on 13 February 1974.