Upholding a legacy

Ateeq Hussain Khan Bandanawazi believes in upholding the deep-rooted tradition of Bandanawazi Qawwal. Says Ateeq, “I am the seventh generation from the lineage of Ustad Haddu Hassu Khan belonging to the Gwalior Gharana of classical musicians. Since childhood, I have been initiated into the field of music by my father, Ustad Iqbal Hussain Khan Bandanawazi with all the love, attention and rigours of riyaz (practice). For me, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Brothers have been great sources of inspiration.”

Ateeq feels very sad about the way qawwali is picturised in Bollywood. “It is very unfortunate that traditional qawwali has mostly been mixed up with many elements of entertainment and presented in Bollywood. The common public sometime thinks it is a form of exploring joy through dance and other gestures. There is an urgent need for every individual to understand the Sufi essence of qawwali. Luckily, we have A.R. Rahman in Bollywood, who has brought in a beautiful amalgamation of Sufiana style and qawwali in his compositions. Music should become a prayer and a medium to understand our inner self.”

He further recalls, “I was about seven years old when my father completed his programme at Yousufain Dargah and asked me to sing. I could see most of the audience getting up and even the musicians packing up as they doubted my abilities. As I started singing Kab Tak Mere Moula, the audience started coming back and I received nearly Rs 15,000 as gifts from the listeners.”  

“Qawwali is very well appreciated all over the world. I sing and teach songs which can be practiced by any religions. The main essence of this form of music is ‘oneness’,” he says, adding, “On my father’s side, we are related to Padma Bhushan Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan; while on our mother’s side, we are related to Padma Shri Ustad Aziz Ahmed Warsi and Warsi Brothers. It is a responsibility to carry on the legacy of our forefathers and pass it over to the next generation.”