Sumana Mukherjee/ New Delhi

The last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar would get absorbed in the melody of Sarangi echoing through the walls of his Palace. The court musicians Ustad Haider Baksh and Ustad Badal Khan played the tiling tunes on the emperor’s favourite instrument even when the Mughal Empire lost its sheen and grip.

Ustad Ghulam Ali, a renowned Sarangi player and vocalist of today, remembers his two grand Gurus - Ustad Haider Baksh and Ustad Badal Khan - who played Sarangi and soothed the frayed nerves of this last Mughal Emperor.

Ghulam Ali, successor of Sonipat-Panipat Gharana told Awaz-the Voice, “The lone Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar could find solace in the soothing tunes of Sarangi; he even learned to play it. "Bahadur Shah Zafar was obsessed with the lilting tunes of Sarangi and it was a lifeline for him in the darkest period of the Mughal empire.”

Narrating stories told to him by his Guru, Ustad Fayaz Khan about his gurus (who were in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar) Ustad Ghulam Ali said that the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was in love with Sarangi. “It was the darkest phase in the more than 300-year-old Mughal Empire and the last powerful Ruler was trying his best to fight against the British East India Company.”

Ustad Ghulam Ali playing sarangi in  show

The Mughal Court was about to be captured by the British. Amid the falling Empire, the only solace for the Emperor was music.

Ustad Ghulam Ali told Awaz-the Voice, “It is not only about Sarangi’s connection with the royals but with the human souls. This is the reason we compare Sarangi to the human voice and maybe this was the reason the instrument could become one’s companion. I am obsessed with the real-life story of the Mughal Emperor who saw Sarangi as his companion. I feel so thrilled when I think about that era and wish I could be one of those musicians in the Mughal Court.”

Ustad Ghulam Ali started learning music at the age of 3 years. “My father Ustad Tajuddin Khan, a famous Sufi singer of Dilli Gharana, was my first Guru and my inspiration,” he told Awaz-the Voice in an interview.

“I am the successor of the 500-year Sonipat-Panipat Gharana of Sarangi which was renamed as the old school of Sarangi during the British Period. Sourangi was the old name of Sarangi and Punjab was its birthplace. You may call it a magical instrument which is suitable with every kind of vocal music.”

He told the story of his grandfather Ustad Niyaz Ahmed Khan who wanted him to be a great musician who would be able to carry on with the legacy. He said “Once a renowned musician Ustad Wazir Hussain Khan joined AIR Delhi as a staff Sarangi artist. My grandfather Khan Sahab was also a singer in Air and he met him there He requested Ustad Wazir Hussain Khan to teach me Sarangi and initiated the ‘Ganda Bandhan’ (tie between the teacher and student).  It was because of his sole interest I could learn Sarangi.”

Ustad Ghulam Ali has been playing Sarangi as a solo musician for the last 5 decades now and is the 17th generation in his family to play Sarangi with boundless efficiency that could hardly be compared with any other Gharana in the country.

Ustad Ghulam Ali in a TV reality show

What is the specialty of this old Gharana of Sarangi?

Ustad Ghulam Ali said “Our Old Gharana used four fingers and the musicians sang along. There are different types of Sarangis like, Chewie ki sarangi Gatte ki sarangi, and Gaj Gatta ki sarangi. In-depth melody or ‘Dhun’ of Sarangi is the most attractive thing to treasure and Dhai taan and Firat ki taan are both very famous among the eminent musicians.”

When asked about the most rewarding moment in his life as a musician Ustad Ghulam Ali said “When I was a budding artist, I was lucky enough to meet Naushadji during a show on Bagam Akhtar. He appreciated my work and showed his blessings upon me. I am thankful to the almighty for giving me a moment to cherish for a lifetime.”

He also worked as a background musician for films like Once Upon a Time in Mumbai and Dangal and also participated as a Sarangi player, in reality, music shows like Sa Re Ga Ma, Indian Idol, Rising Star, and The Voice of India, for the special episodes of Sarangi.

UstadGhulam Ali told Awaz-the Voice that he found France the most beautiful country after his visits to almost all parts of the world. “I loved the calmness of France, especially places like Leon, and Loots.”

He said “Those places are so calm and their serenity made them heaven on earth and there was a beautiful statue of Jesus in a Catholic Church which Was unparallel. My most pleasant experience was playing Sarangi on the Sixth floor of the Eiffel Tower. I was the only Sarangi player invited there and after playing there I felt as if I was the king of the world.”

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To him, music is like an ocean. “I am trying to understand the actual depth of my Sarangi. So, this is a never-ending search and I will be continuing with it till the end.”