Ustad Rashid Khan
Farewell to celebrated classical singer Ustad Rashid Khan in Kolkata
Kolkata/UNI: The mortal remains of classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan, who passed away on Tuesday afternoon, were brought to the Rabindra Sadan in south Kolkata on Wednesday morning for public viewing as well as for his fans to pay their last respect before being cremated with state honour at a burial ground in the city.
The West Bengal government has made all arrangements for the farewell to the departed soul after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the singer would be cremated with gun salutes.
The leading classical singer of the new genre died of prostate cancer at the age of 55 in a city hospital.
Khan is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son. All the three were present at the Rabindra Sadan.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present all along during the farewell ceremony and the gun salute. On Tuesday she visited the hospital where the legendary singer breathed his last to pay her tributes and said: "The death of the singer is a great loss for the entire country and the entire music fraternity. I am in a lot of pain as I still can't believe that Rashid Khan is no more."
State ministers Arup Biswas, Indranil Sen among others were seen at the Rabindra Sadan where scores of fans of the noted classical vocalist were paying their last respect.
Mamata Banerjee with Rashid Khan's family during his farewell. Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS
The mortal remains were be kept till 1 pm at the Rabindra Sadan, the rendezvous of art and culture, before the final journey of the vocalist.
At 1 pm, Kolkata Police gave him a gun salute in the presence of the chief minister. The last rites were performed following religious norms of the family.
Khan was a classical maestro but also has produced many popular Bollywood gems. Like Aaoge Jab Tum O Sajna from the film Jab We Met, which brought him closer to several generations who were not exposed to Indian classical music.
Rashid Khan was the recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan awards.
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