An evening was dedicated to Ustad Sabri Khan Sahab who contributed his unique knowledge to build India's cultural identity. By Vaibhav Ratra
Music is derived from passion and it is only few among the crowd who manage to pull the right strings. It is hardly in one’s lifetime that one gets to witness such an epiphany. A parallel world where imagination takes flight, the sarangi holds much power to take you to the world of ragas and blend in the colour of its serendipity.
Sabri Khan was renowned for his fidelity to chaste traditional sarangi. In playing sarangi he had generated his own style where the purity of raga, variety of tans, layakari, (rhythmic oscillations) alaap-jor are obvious and of course of the traditional form of sarangi-playing in its total originality. He has played alongside all the greatest musicians of every gharana. He played Dhrupad on sarangi, which is considered an impossible feat.
It was in honour of this exceptionally talented man that a memorial was held. The event, titled Tribute to Ustad Sabri Khan Sahab, celebrated the extraordinary life of a musician who was an inspiration to many. The evening was filled with the magic of music. Nabeel Khan struck notes on his sarangi and presented a blissful raag on his instrument paying tribute to his grandfather Ustad Sabri Khan.
Sarangi artist Nasir Khan mentioned, “To speak words in praise of Ustad Sabri Khan is like holding a candle to the sun. In terms of his contribution to the art of sarangi, he played Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri and other forms in a way that made it seem easy. The sarangi is known as the sau-rangi (an instrument of a hundred colours). And he brought colours out of it that no one has seen before.”
“He not only reached the pinnacle of performing success, he also created a legion of good sarangi players and guided them in a way of life he believed in, He told them if you work with honesty, Allah will surely reward you,” said his grandson Nabeel Khan
The evening tuned in with the elegant performance of Vidha lal for Saraswati Vandana paying ode to the deity, and then moving on to the performance ‘Taal Basant’, where the artist showcased the indispensable attributes of Kathak, with beautiful eye expressions, hand gestures, striking footwork, breathtaking spins and subtle expressions, bound in the time cycle of 9 beats. This will be followed by ‘Taal Teentaal’, where the artist performed the different shades of Kathak in the time cycle of 16 beats in Drut laya.
Vidha lal said, “Sabri Khan was a unique personality who created good music and also moulded disciples who are doing good work. He was the kind of person who took his career forward while also teaching his disciples how to move ahead keeping in mind one’s principles.”
The event was a huge success with throngs of people paying tribute to Sabri Khan. His demeanor and persona were exceptionally disciplined. He had an affinity for diversity. The main aim for this event was to tribute legendary Sabri Khan and to spread the magic through music and mesmerizing Kathak dance performance reprising the aura and sanctity of music. “Through Sarangi Cultural Academy we will try to fulfill his dream and promote the ancient Indian music nationally and internationally,” mentioned, Nasir Khan. The passing of a great soul from our midst is a reminder of the qualities that make a person’s memory immortal. It’s the wealth of knowledge shared and the music wrought through hard work and sublime sensibilities that make them memorable.