Kirit Khan

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Ustad Kirit Khan was a talented Sitar player of the Indian subcontinent. He was born on 29th October 1955 in Comilla, Bangladesh and later settled in Kolkata, India. He comes of an illustrious family of musicians. He is the second son of Ustad Bahadur Khan, a celebrated and internationally reputed Sarod artiste and the younger brother of Bidyut Khan, who is actively propagating the musical culture of the family. He is also the grandson of Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, the Maestro of music of the sub-continent, himself the brother of legendary Ustad Alauddin Khan.

^{Portrait of Kirit Khan, Source: Monthly Sargam, Dhaka, October 2006}

Contents 1 Early life 2 Arrest and criminal activity 3 Performance in Major Concerts in India 4 Tours 5 Awards and Recognition 6 Music Direction in Films 7 Teaching Sitar 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Early life

At the age of seven, Kirit started learning music. First he took his lessons on Tabla and later on Sitar. He learnt Sitar from his father Ustad Bahadur Khan till his death in 1989. He acquired sheer virtuosity in his fingers under the strict mentorship of his father. In 1976 he appeared in front of audience with a duet concert (Sitar and Sarod) with his father and that was the start of his glorious career ^[1]. From then on he played Sitar in home and abroad continuously.

[edit] Arrest and criminal activity

According to India Express article dated June 14 2005 by journalist Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, The deputy commissioner of police Gyanwant Singh had informed that a glut of fraud complaints had been received by musicians against Kirit Khan This was revealed following investigation by the officers of the detective department of Kolkata police.

The deputy commissioner of police (detective department) Gyanwant Singh, informed that Kirit has allegedly duped a large number of musicians, singers and dancers including women in the city.

‘‘We have been receiving complaints from many musicians and dancers in the city after his arrest. A couple of days back two women dancers complained that they were taken for a ride by Kirit Khan. He took money from them promising them performance in musical programmes abroad,” Gyanwant Singh told Newsline.

Kirit Khan was arrested on June 4 by officers of the detective department on charges of cheating a musician in the city. He was produced to the Bankshall Court the next day and was released on bail.

‘‘Soon after his arrest many musicians and dancers in the city have been coming up with complaints of being duped by Kirit Khan. His modus operandi was simple. According to the complaints received, he used to take money from these unsupecting musicians, promising them to provide a chance to perform in musical concerts abroad. He had taken between Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 from each of the persons who had lodged a complaint,’’ an investigating officer said.

When Kirit Khan did not keep his word these musicians started pursuading him to return the money back. But he kept on promising that they would soon be asked to go to some European countries to participate in musical concerts.

But soon when they realised that they had been cheated by Kirit Khan these musicians seemed to have no option but to take the police help.

‘‘After receiving a couple of complaints, we called Kirit and asked him about the deals. He could not provide satisfactory answers to our interrogation. After that we pursuaded him to return the money but he did not and we had to arrest him. He was released on bail. We have received several complaints against him after that,’’ Gyanwant Singh said.

[edit] Performance in Major Concerts in India

Among his memorable concerts is a duet performance with his father in the 'Sursringer Music Conference' in Mumbai in 1986. In 1987 he was showered with appreciation for his solo Sitar recitals in Mumbai organized by 'Ustad Abdul Halim Zafar Khan Academy'. In the same year (1987) he participated in a duet concert with his father in 'Tansen Music Conference'. In 1991 he was highly appreciated at the 'Surdas Music Conference' in Kolkata. In 1999 he was highly acclaimed by audience at the 'Dover lane Music Conference' in Kolkata.

[edit] Tours

He had toured different countries in the world performing with his Sitar since 1978. The first countries he toured are Russia, and Cuba. Then in 1988 he rendered his recitals in Germany, and England. In 1989 he played sitar in Middle East. In 1999 he performed in Denmark, Switzerland, N. Ireland (Belfast), and Scotland (Edinburgh) ^[2]. In 2003 he performed in South America (Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru) ^{[3] [4]}, and Sweden.

[edit] Awards and Recognition

He received several awards and appreciation for his contribution in music. In 1984 he obtained the title Suramani from the ‘Haridas Music Conference’, and later Surjhankar in Mumbai ^[5]. In 1985 he was given a reception in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh, as the soil’s bright son, with a golden key as a token of their sincere appreciation.

[edit] Music Direction in Films

Besides playing sitar he also engaged himself as a music director in different films. He worked with his father as an assistant music director in Hindi Films ‘Garam Hawa’, ‘Amabashya Ki Chand’. He also worked as assistant Music director in Bangla films ‘Natun Pata’, ‘Jukti Takko Goppo’, ‘Je Jekhane Dariye’. He was the solo music director of the film Nilkanya. He started a documentary film called ‘Gharana and Paramarara’ which has been sponsored by Government of India. The theme of the film was to make the younger generation aware of Parampara (Teacher-student interactive learning) and concept of Gharana (Schools of music)^[6].

[edit] Teaching Sitar

Though a busy artiste he also engaged himself as a music teacher In Ustad Bahadur Khan Music Academy in Kolkata and thus played a role to spread Indian classical instrumental music. He was a visiting teacher on sitar in Indian Music Academy in Frankfurt, Germany ^[7].

After a long suffering from renal (kidney) disease ^{[8] [9] [10]} Kirit Khan died on August 22, 2006 at a premature age of 51 in Kolkata.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pracheen Kala Kendra (Copyright © 2005), Baithak Programme
• Ustad Bahadur Khan
• 'Ramkanai Das captivates audience', Daily New Age, March 24, 2006
• ‘Music fest at Ravindra Bharati’ The Times of India, October 28, 2003
• 'Sangeet Swarn: A golden chance for music lovers' The Tribune, Chandigarh, October 28, 2003