There are many cities in India like Jaipur, Gwalior, Benaras, Mahiyar, Indore etc. which are synonymous with Classical Hindustani Music Gharanas (schools of music). These Gharanas names designate the city of their origin and profess to be solemn, serious and weighty. Delhi, however takes the cake when it comes to a rather flippant name for a Classical musical gharana of India. Yes, I am referring to the Qawwal Bacchon ka Gharana based out of Delhi.
Qawwali, as many of us believe, is the gift of Amir Khusro, to the world of music. Amir Khusro was a disciple of the great Sufi Saint, Nizamuddin Auliya, who was based out of Delhi. Nizamuddin Auliya apart from being a mystic did a lot of welfare for the citizens of Delhi. So much so, that many Delhites, still believe, it’s only with his blessings that one can continue to prosper in Delhi. Stories abound about his miracles and even clashes with the rulers who paid a heavy price for crossing the saints path. “Dilli dur ast” was the famous uttering of his when Sultan Ghiasuddin Tughlaq challenged the saint and the Sultan had to pay with his life, before reaching back to Delhi after a victorious war campaign.
Amir Khusro, was proclaimed ” Tuti – e Hind” by his admirers and is known to have written in Persian, Hindavi, Urdu and several dialects. His “Zi haal – e – miskeen” is said to be the first Ghazal written in Rekta. The usage of Persian and Braj Bhasha languages, in alternate stanzas, of the Ghazal, is unique and hitherto not attempted. Readers should listen to it for the deep meaning of verses in true Sufi tradition as also its musicality. The version by Qawwal – Late Nusrat Fateh Khan is my personal favourite.
With such lineage the Delhi gharana of Hindustani Classical Music also had some of the oldest and most famous Tabla players of India. Their approach was both traditional and vigorous. Siddhar Khan is said to have been the founder of the gharana and India’s & Delhi’s most loved Tabla player of modern time, Ustad Shafaat Ahmad Khan belonged to Delhi gharana.
The Qawwal Bacchon Ka Gharana (Dilli Gharana) is the oldest Qawwal gharana of the Hindustani Classical music tradition.. The gharana was founded by the disciples of Amir Khusrau, a pioneer of qawwali, tarana and khayal. As a result, this gharana specializes in these genres. It’s said that exponents of this gharana approach Raagdari with more freedom than the Dhrupad inspired gharanas, like Gwalior, Jaipur, and Agra. Emphasis on bhav and exposition are the hallmarks of this style. Some orthodox Indian classical music afficianados do not regard the Delhi gharana as an “authentic” one. Well, any which way, the Dilli gharana has its own accomplishments and to those who have a penchant for Qawwali as a genre it’s simply divine. So to those who feel that Delhi does not have music in its air the Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana throws out a challenge.-(By Sidhartha Mukherjee)
