Bade Fateh Ali Khan

Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan was a prominent Pakistani Khyal vocalist and a leading exponent of the Patiala gharana tradition. He performed as part of a legendary singing duo with his brother, Amanat Ali, until 1974. This partnership achieved immense prestige across the subcontinent and beyond.

Early life and education

Fateh Ali was born in 1935 in Shamchaurasi, located in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, British India. His name was chosen to honor 'Colonel' Fateh Ali Khan, who was a close friend and singing partner of his grandfather, Ali Bakhsh Jarnail. He received musical training from his father, Akhtar Hussain Khan, who served as a distinguished vocalist under the patronage of the Patiala princely state. His grandfather also performed in that same royal court alongside 'Colonel' Fateh Ali Khan.

The Patiala Gharana has deep historical roots that date back to the mid to late 19th century. It was founded by his great-grandfather, Mian Kallu, who was also known as Kalu-miya Khan. This ancestor received his classical music training from Mir Qutub Bakhsh Tanrus Khan, a musician of the Delhi gharana who served in the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Career

Fateh Ali began his singing career at the age of nine. In 1945, he and his brother Amanat Ali made a glorious singing debut in Lahore under the sponsorship of Pandit Jeevanlal Mattoo. The duo gained widespread recognition in both India and Pakistan after performing at the All Bengal Music Conference in Kolkata in 1949. They toured South Asia extensively to represent the Patiala gharana.

The partition of India in 1947 forced the family to migrate to Pakistan. Although they faced destitution in their new home, the brothers regained their status as foremost vocalists while still in their teens. Fateh Ali faced a major crisis when Amanat Ali died unexpectedly in 1974 at age 52. He reportedly suffered from severe depression for over 18 months before he joined Radio Pakistan as a supervisor.

The brothers utilized different vocal specializations to complement one another. While Amanat Ali used his gifted voice for broad sweeps and the upper register, Fateh Ali focused on the intricacies of complex taans and behlawas. He sang in a lower and more gravelly voice, drawing inspiration from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan. After a period of not singing, he resumed public performances with his brother Hamid Ali Khan and later with his nephews, Asad Amanat Ali Khan and Amjad Amanat Ali Khan.

His repertoire included the modern Khayal genre as well as Thumris, Dadra, and Ghazal. In 1992, he released a unique CD on the ECM label titled Ragas and Sagas, which featured a collaboration with the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. He also taught many international students, including the Norwegian-born singer Deeyah. His influence reached classical prodigy Shyam Panchmatia and the popular singer Shafqat Amanat Ali.

In 2016, he taught classical music classes at the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad. He is often hailed as the last thoroughbred vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. This distinction comes as the stylistic continuity of various gharanas has faced challenges due to socio-cultural changes.

Personal life

Fateh Ali developed lung disease in late 2016 and was admitted to PIMS Hospital in Islamabad. He died on 4 January 2017 at the age of 82. His funeral prayers took place in Lahore, where he was buried at the Mominpura Graveyard. He rests alongside his brother Amanat Ali Khan and his nephew Asad Amanat Ali Khan.

Awards and recognition

The President of Pakistan honored Fateh Ali with the Pride of Performance in 1969. He received this national literary award alongside his brother, Amanat Ali Khan. He was also awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan.