Wazir Khan (Rampur)


Wazir Khan served as the head of Arbab-e-Nishat during the period of Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur. He was also an excellent playwright who established the Rampur theatre in the building of club ghar at Rampur.

Early life and background

Wazir Khan was born in the erstwhile Rampur State to Ameer Khan Beenkar.
Wazir Khan, was the descendant of Naubat Khan and Hussaini.He was an individual whose interests span many fields or areas.Besides being an excellent musician he was a professional playwright.In poetry Wazir Khan was the student of Daagh Dehelvi.He also authored a novel in his lifetime. He was passionate about photography and was also an immaculate Calligrapher.Primarily he used to do Calligraphy in Arabic.Painting was one of his avocation.As a Musicologist he wrote the Risala Mausibi.Wazir Khan was proficient in many languages such as Arabic,Persian,Urdu,Hindi,Bangla,Marathi and Gujarati.

Cuisine

Naubat Khan's family was very fond of food. They were able to develop their own cuisine.Rice preparations were included in their meals and kebab featured regularly. Rakabdars from the court of Awadh were employed in their kitchens. It was said that if anyone from this family is not fond of dessert than he is not a Naubat Khani. These preparations were so rich in ingredients that once Nawab Hamid Ali Khan said that if this family was not fond of such good food they could have houses made of gold and silver.

Disciples

Nayak Wazir Khan was the master of Nawab Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur, Allauddin Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan, Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. Alauddin Khan went on to establish the modern Maihar gharana with disciples like Ali Akbar Khan, Annapurna Devi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Vasant Rai, Pannalal Ghosh, Bahadur Khan, and Sharan Rani.

Struggle of Alauddin Khan

Wazir Khan lived like a prince. It was not easy for a commoner to approach the musician directly. Alauddin was quite desperate to become his disciple. It is said that one day he stood in front of the Nawab's vehicle and begged to become Wazir Khan' disciple. The Nawab of Rampur was pleased with his perseverance. The Nawab sent the vehicle to fetch Wazir Khan and Alauddin was made the disciple of Wazir Khan. Wazir Khan taught him nothing for two years, but when he came to know about the hardships Alauddin's wife was facing at home, he started teaching Alauddin.
, nephew of Wazir Khan

Family tree