17 November marks the birth anniversary of Ustad Imrat Khan, an extraordinary name in Indian classical music. A quiet and brilliant artist, he established himself as a timeless maestro through dedication, discipline, and depth. As one of the foremost exponents of the Imdadkhani or Etawah gharana, he was not only a renowned sitar player but also a leading contemporary master of the surbahar, a string instrument he restored and re-established with dignity on the global stage.
Ustad Imrat Khan was born on 17 November 1935 in Kolkata. From an early age, it seemed as though music had entrusted him with the role of its most devoted custodian. His family was already celebrated in the world of classical music—his father Ustad Inayat Khan and elder brother Ustad Vilayat Khan were both monumental artistes. Growing up in such an environment, he did not merely learn music; he lived it every day.
What distinguished him from many of his contemporaries was his mastery over two complex instruments—the sitar and the surbahar. The surbahar, known for its deep and meditative resonance, is seldom heard today; yet under his fingers, it unfolded into a world filled with emotion and introspection. His slow, thoughtful alap, expansive meend, and the spiritual depth of his playing placed the surbahar on a special pedestal.
His influence extended far beyond the Indian subcontinent—spreading across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. He spent many years teaching abroad, introducing students of varied backgrounds to the subtleties of Indian raga music.
Thus, he became not merely a bearer of a family legacy but an international ambassador of Indian classical music.
Students who learnt from him still recall his calm and introspective nature. His personality resembled his music—humble yet firm, contemplative yet deeply committed. For him, music was not merely a profession but a spiritual path, a means of seeking something greater than the self.
Honours and recognition—though he deserved more
Many connoisseurs believe that Ustad Imrat Khan deserved greater state recognition. Yet the true measure of an artiste does not lie in awards; it lies in the legacy of sound they leave behind—sound that travels across generations.
With his passing in 2018, an era came to a quiet end. But true artistes never fade away. Their music remains—through recordings, through their students, and through the hearts of innumerable listeners.
On his birth anniversary, we remember Ustad Imrat Khan as—
a guru,
a seeker,
a custodian of tradition,
and above all—
a timeless artiste.
Ustad Imrat Khan did not merely play music—he embraced it with the devotion of a meditative soul.