Mobarak Hossain Khan


Mobarak Hossain Khan was a Bangladeshi musicologist, musician, and writer. He played the Surbahar, a string instrument meant for classical music.

Background

Khan was born on 27 February 1938. He came from a musical background. His relatives include Ustad Dr. Alauddin Khan, Ustad Ayet Ali Khan, Ustad Dr. Ali Akbar Khan, Srimati Annapurna Devi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Abed Hossain Khan, Ustad Bahadur Khan, Sheikh Sadi Khan, his other cousins Ustad Khadem Hossain Khan, Ustad Mir Kashem Khan, his nephews Ustad Phuljhuri Khan, Ustad Khurshid Khan, Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan, Ustad Bidyut Khan, Ustad Kirit Khan, Reenat Fauzia, and many others. He was the third son of Ustad Ayet Ali Khan. His grandfather was Sabdar Hossain Khan, and other uncles include Samiruddin Khan, Fakir Aftabuddin Khan, Ustad Nayeb Ali Khan.

Career and awards

Khan was the director general of National Academy of Fine and Performing Arts and former Chairman of Nazrul Institute named after the Poet-Laureate of Bangladesh Kazi Nazrul Islam. He was also the President of the Bangladesh Chapter of International Council for Traditional Music, the headquarters being in the US and the President of Ustad Ayet Ali Khan Academy of Music. He also served Radio Bangladesh and former Radio Pakistan for a long stint of 30 years. He was also the secretary general of the International PEN Bangladesh Chapter, headquarters being in London, UK
He visited many countries including USA, U. K., China, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Japan, North Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, Kuwait, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Australia as a leader of cultural delegation, and also as an expert on radio, Saarc, Unesco, as well as on classical music.
Mobarak Hossain Khan and his wife Fauzia Khan were involved in planning, research and hosting a popular TV musical program on NTV, named Bajo ebong Bajao, which features Nazrul Sangeet with the sangat of Sitar, Sarod, and other classical instruments.

Academics

Khan was a visiting lecturer of College of Music, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and associated with the Department of Drama and Music of Dhaka University and Rajshahi University. He earned his M. A. in history from Dhaka University.

Books

Mobarak Hossain Khan wrote more than 100 books, several of which are in English. He also contributed to the 'Banglapedia' published by the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. His recent publications on music are:
The three other books in English are:
Khan was married to Fauzia Yasmin. They had one daughter Reenat Fauzia and two sons Dr. Tareef Hayat Khan and Tanim Hayat Khan.

Honors and awards

Khan died on 24 November 2019 at the age of 81.