Ustad Master Rattan (Hadiabad, Phagwara)

The legendary vocalist, Ustad Master Rattan Ji of Shaam Chaurasi Gharana was one of the most distinguished classical musicians of India. He has sung all over India and Pakistan in large concerts and was admired and appreciated by the public because of his different and incomparable gayaki (singing) style. Ustad Master Rattan Ji was an idol of truth and honesty. A large novel could be written about his life but the following is a short introduction of describing his life as a classical vocalist.

 

He was born on November 10, 1914 at Hadiabad near Phagwara, in Punjab, India. and died in 1995 in England. His father’s name was Puran Chand, who was a singer as well as a sitarist. His grandfather, Ghuldu Ram was a skilled singer of Dhrupad. Master Ji’s basic education in music was given to him by his father. Later on he went to Ustad Maula Baksh for more vocal training and then became a disciple of Ustad Mian Ahmed Baksh of Shaam Chaurasi Gharana.

 

Master Rattan Ji belonged to that vintage generation and class of musicians who are rare in the tradition of Indian Classical Music. He acquired multifaceted musical capabilities that made him eminent vocalist as well as an accomplished sitarist and violinist. Having mastered both the melodic and rhythmic components of music, he rendered concerts with supreme ease and authority. His rendering of ‘sargam’ was and is incomparable. Audiences responded enthusiastically to this sensitive artist. His humble yet passionate love for music made him a rare artist.

 

Master Ji was awarded a variety of prestigious awards including several gold medals for his performances and his contributions to Indian Classical Music.

 

1953: He was honored by Shankankra Kala Kendra as Devaker of music in Patna, Bihar.

1971: He was awarded gold medal for being the best in his field of music, at a concert arranged in Ludhiana, Punjab.

1971: Again he was awarded gold medal at a concert arranged in Phagwara called ‘Jashn-e-Rattan’.

1979: Master Rattan Ji was honored by the Chief Minister of Punjab for his contribution to classical music. He was presented with a model of Harimandir Sahib, Shawl and 3100/-rupees

 

Before 1947 his recordings were broadcasted by Lahore Radio Station and later they were aired by Jalandhar Radio Station.

 

In addition to his regular performances at Baba Harvallabh Sangeet Samelan in Jalandhar and many other places in Punjab, Master Rattan Ji performed at various cities outside of Punjab like Karachi, Kota Boondi, Shikarpur, Calcutta, Lucknow, Shimla, Nagpur, Allahabad and Delhi.

 

Ustad Ji had many disciples. The following is a list of his favorite and most talented students:

 

1. Shri Om Parkash (Ommi) – Dilruba player at Delhi Radio and T.V. Station

2. Master Haridev – Classical Vocalist at Jalandhar Radio and T.V. Station

3. Ustad Mian Shaukat Hussain – Tabla Vadak

4. Shri Purshottam Jalota – Ghazal and Thumri Vocalist (father of the famous ghazal singer Shri Anup Jalota)

5. Shri Vajir Chand Chitra – Sitarist at Jalandhar Radio and T.V. Station

6. S. Ajit Singh Mutlashi – Vocalist and Tabla Vadak (London, UK)

7. Shri Sudhir Kaushal – Ghazal and Thumri Vocalist at Jalandhar Radio and T.V. Station

8. S. Pargat Singh Matharu – Classical Vocalist (New York, USA)

 

Biography has been provided by Bhai Pargat Singh Matharu’s grandson, Sahib Singh Matharu.

 

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