Ustad Sultan Khan

 

'Melting Boundaries': Nawang Kechog, Sultan Khan and Mahesh perform 

during the Festival of Tibet 2000 in Mumbai organised jointly by 

Friends of Tibet and Tibetan Youth Congress.

Words cannot express how sorry we at Friends of Tibet are to hear about the demise of Ustad Sultan Khan (1940-2011), one of the greatest Sarangi players from India who also happened to be a true friend of Tibet.

It was almost ten years ago, Sultan Khan, popularly known as "Ustad" was first introduced to Friends of Tibet by Shri Mahesh Babu of Banyan Tree when we approached him with the idea of organsing a music concert in Mumbai with Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog. After a week-long vigorous training and coordination – 'Melting Boundaries' – a fusion between Indian and Tibetan musicians was performed as a part of the 'Festival of Tibet 2000' in Bombay. Probably for the first-time ever Shri Nawang Kechog, Shri Ustad Sultan Khan and Shri Mahesh performed for the hundreds of music lovers and Tibet supporters who turned up for the music evening at the YB Chavan Centre on March 16, 2000. Ustad Sultan Khan remained a friend of Tibet throughout his life.

Ustad is no more with us. He will always live in our hearts.

Sethu Das

sethu.das@friendsoftibet.org

Friends of Tibet, PO Box 16674, Bombay 400050, India.

फ्रेंड्स ऑफ तिब्बत, पीओ बॉक्स १६६७४, मुम्बई ४०००५०, भारत.

Friends of Tibet is a people’s movement to keep alive the issue of Tibet through direct action. Our activities are aimed at ending China’s occupation of Tibet and the suffering of the Tibetan people. Friends of Tibet supports the continued struggle of the Tibetan people for independence. Friends of Tibet is also one of the principal organisers of World Tibet Day around the world. To know more, visit: www.friendsoftibet.org