Kolkata: Celebrated classical singer Ustad Rashid Khan on Tuesday passed away at a city private hospital, official sources said.
Padmashree Khan, who was 55, was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer at the Peerless Hospital on the EM Bypass.
He was on artificial ventilation support.
His end came around 15-45 hours, hospital sources said.
He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was on an official visit to South 24 Parganas district, returned and visited the hospital to pay her tribute to the musical maestro.
Hospital sources said they have tried their best to restore health of the singer since his admission following prostate cancer.
Khan's health deteriorated after he suffered a cerebral attack last month.
Born in Uttar Pradesh July 1, 1968, 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.
Rashid Khan was an Indian classical musician in the Hindustani music tradition. He belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana, and was the great-grandson of gharana founder Inayat Hussain Khan.
He is married to Soma Khan.
In a story told in several versions, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi once remarked that Rashid Khan was the "assurance for the future of Indian vocal music".
He was awarded the Padma Shri as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award in 2022 by the Union Government in the field of Art.
Mamata saddened at the passing away of Ustad Rashid Khan
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed her profound grief at the passing away of Ustad Rashid Khan, one of the greatest exponents of Indian classical music.
Taking to X, Banerjee said, "Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of Ustad Rashid Khan, one of the greatest exponents of Indian classical music of our times."
"A hugely respected vocalist with unparalleled genius in creating music, he made us proud by settling here and making Bengal his home," Banerjee added.
"He and Soma, his wife, and son Armaan, and the whole family, were close to us and allowed us to be on their side in the maestro's last journey in life, " she stated.
"Ustad Rashid Khan got our highest civilian award Banga Bibhushan and our Sangeet Mahasamman too. He was attached to several of our State cultural bodies in advisory capacity," the Chief Minister mentioned.
She extended her profound condolences to Soma, Armaan Khan, and Ustad's whole family as well as to the countless students and admirers that he leaves behind in the whole world.
Ustad Rashid Khan was truly a world famous classical Indian vocal artist, Banerjee maintained.
Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee said, "It is with profound grief that we mourn the loss of music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan."
"His immeasurable contributions to Indian classical music have left an indelible mark on our cultural heritage," he added.
"My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time," Banerjee stated.
