Nagpur: Ustad Nasir Khan, a well-known Sitar player of Nagpur died at the IGGMCH on Wednesday morning due to Covid-19. He was 52. He is survived by wife, two children and family. Unfortunately, his whole family is Covid-19 positive. His wife is receiving treatment in IGGMCH and both children are in home isolation.
Ustad Nasir Khan was working as a Sitar player in All India Radio, Nagpur Center, since 1988. His father Hamid Khan was also a well-known Sitar player. Nasir Khan started learning Sitar from his father as well as Pt Arun Kumar Bhattacharya of Saini Gharana. He also took lessons from Sarangi Maestro Ustad Sardar Khan from Gwalior and Ustad Latif Ahmed Khan from Pune.
While being a top grade Sitar Player of AIR, Ustad Nasir Khan was popular across all music groups in Nagpur for his great skills of live Sitar accompaniment. Over the years, he became an inseparable part of the Kirtan Mahotsava, Brahmanad Music events of SCZCC, Kalidasa Festival, Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Music festival etc. His has also performed in Italy, France, England and Switzerland.
Ghazal singer Shishir Parkhie described him as a wonderful human being and musician par excellence. “He used to accompany me in many concerts. Unfortunately, he lost his battle against Covid today. Our beloved Nasir Bhai will always be missed,” said Parkhie.
Rashtriya Kirtan Ratna Prof Dilip Dabir, who has been instrumental in organizing national level kirtan mahotsava in city, remembered Nasir khan as an artist who broke the religious boundaries. “His Sitar used to instill life in our kirtans. Performing a kirtan without Nasir Khan’s Sitar is difficult to imagine,” Dr Dabir said.
Composer Bhagwat Tiwari remembered Nasir Khan as humble human being whose only religion was Music. “Be is Kirtan, Bhajan, or Durga Puja, Nasir Bhai’s Sitar accompaniment used to complete every musical event,” he said.
Sanskar Bharati’s Ashutosh Adoni remembered Ustad Nasir Khan’s association with the group. “Nasir bhai had a close relationship with Sanskar Bharati. Whether it is Geet Ramayana or Classical Music concerts, his presence was fixed in our events. Sudden dean of such artist is a great loss to the art world,” he said.
Veteran singer M A Kader, Musician Shrikant Pise, Nasir Khan’s companions flutist Arvind Upadhye, violinist Shirish Bhalerao, his colleagues from AIR Nagpur also remembered him as a great artist and human being. Last rites were performed as per Covid-19 protocol.