Bundu Khan

Ustad Bundu Khan (1880-1955) was the legendary Sarangi player belonging to the Delhi Gharana. He was trained by his grandfather Saungi Khan, father Ali Jan Khan. But he had extensive training under his maternal uncle, Ustad Mamman Khan Sahab, one of the highly respected singers of his time. He became court-musician to Maharaja Tukaji Rao Holkar of Indore and was also in the Rampur court of a brief period. He was highly influenced by Pandit Bhatkhande whom he met in Indore. He has written several parts of Sangit Viveka Darpan, which was published in 1934. He was a staff artist at Delhi Radio Station, when its broadcast was started in 1935. He migrated to Pakistan three years after partition but his heart remained in India. His sons, Umrao Bundu Khan and Buland Iqbal are also good sarangi players. Bundu Khan's Sarangi was smaller in size than the usual one, with some metal strings instead of gut strings & so, it sounded much different. He had a great mastery over Raga system, Taan-palta, various traditional compositions - especially Ragas such as Malkauns, Malhar, Bhairavi.