Wazir Khan (1860–1926) was a famous musician who played the Rudra Veena in the Rampur Senia tradition and was a royal musician of Rampur. As per records available, his family is associated with Rudra Veena since the 16th century, with members belonging to the royal court of Mughal emperors like Akbar and Aurangzeb. At least 10 generations of musicians from his family have been associated with this musical instrument, and his paternal grandfather Omrao Khan invented Surbahar. Wazir enjoyed a princely status during his lifetime, and a common man couldn’t approach him directly.
Wazir Khan – Royal Musician and Rudra Veena Player from Rampur
Wazir Khan was a direct descendant of Naubat Khan and Hussaini (the daughter of Miyan Tansen). His lineage is known as the Beenkar tradition of the Senia Gharana, which specializes in the Dhrupad style and instruments like the Rudra Veena and Surbahar.
Wazir Khan was born as the son of Ameer Khan Beenkar – famous been player and dhrupad singer. He was initiated to the world of music and veena at a young age. He established the Rampur theatre, and his other interests included photography too. He served as the chief musician at the court of Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur, and other musicians need to seek his blessings before joining the court. He owned numerous disciples, of whom Alauddin Khan is the most blessed name. He didn’t teach him anything in the first two years and started musical lessons after knowing his hardships from Alauddin’s wife.
His legacy dates back to I. Samokhan Singh, Maharaja of Kishangarh, who died in a battle with Akbar. Samokhan Singh’s grandson Naubat Khan, a musician of the rudra veena, embraced Islam and accepted the surname ‘Khan’ from Akbar. His real name was Misri Singh, and he was a contemporary of the great musician Tansen, who married his daughter. Lal Khan Gunsamundra, Naubat Khan. Khushal Khan Gunsamundra, Naimat Khan (Sadarang), Omrao Khan, and Ameer Khan Khandara are among his predecessors associated with music and musical instrument, Been. Among his successors, Imtiyaz Ali Khan is a prominent art historian and painter belonging to the present generation. Dabir Khan was yet another prominent name of the 20th century associated with Rudra Veena.
Wazir Khan Khan – Some interesting and lesser-known facts
1. His family roots back to a Hindu Royal family associated with music during the 16th century, who lost its power to Emperor Akbar. The family later converted to Islam, yet remained as musicians.
2. At least 10 generations of his family were performers in music, particularly the rudra veena, beginning with King Samokhan Singh, who lost the battle to Akbar.
3. He taught numerous students. Some of the prominent names are Alauddin Khan, Naimat Khan, Lal Khan Gunsamundra, Khushal Khan Gunsamundra, Omrao Khan, Ameer Khan Khandara, Imtiyaz Ali Khan etc. He also taught his grandson Dabir Khan, who carried forward his legacy.
4. He was a musicologist who authored Risala Mousibi. Photography, theatre, and cuisine were his other interests.
5. His family had developed their own dishes influenced by Awadhi cuisine. His family is fond of desserts, and has a habit of taking desserts after every meal.
End Note: Naubat Khan was the founder of the Senia Beenkar tradition during the Mughal era (Akbar’s court). At that time, the tradition was simply the Senia Gharana. Centuries later, the family and its descendants slowly settled in the Rampur court, which became a major center for the arts. Wazir Khan became the most famous face of this specific branch, and that’s why it is called the Rampur Senia Gharana. In short, Rampur Senia Gharana is the modern or modified form of Senia Gharana, founded by Naubat Khan. Senia Gharana is the parent or root of this tradition.
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