Renowned Classical Singer Ustad Fateh Ali Khan Passes Away

Renowned classical singer Ustad Fateh Ali Khan passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82.

Ustad Fateh Ali Khan had been admitted at Islamabad's PIMS Hospital since the past 10 days and was suffering from a lungs disease.

Born in Patiala 1935, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan at the mere of age of 12 along with his elder brother Amanat Ali Khan aged 14, became the Maharaja's chosen singers at his court. Being paid a decent amount of about Rs100 per month in the year of 1946 for which was considered to be a fairly handsome amount. The year that he grew up was one in which music was valued.

Carrying forward the tradition, he was the sixth generation in his family devoted to classical singing. Keeping the legacy alive, he was joined by the late Amanat Ali Khan and Hamid Ali Khan. His sons Rustom and Sultan teach classical music in Lahore and Islamabad.

Amongst the many awards he received, President's Pride of Performance was one of them.

His ideology that he will forever be remembered by:

"I would live my life exactly the same, if I had another life."

Ustad Fateh gained fame for Pakistan not just within the country but across the globe; US, India, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, France, Norway, Afghanistan, Nepal and devoted his life to his passion of singing and teaching classical music. His students are spread across the world from Europe to South East Asia.

Another legend, gone too soon! RIP.