Romancing the Sitar

Romancing the Sitar is a biographic account of the musical journey of Ustad Rafique Khan who continues to carry forward the Sitar tradition of the Dharwad Kirana Gharana. The book attempts to cover the different stages of Ustad Rafique Khans life including his formative years glimpses of his family life his journey as a student of music and his sojourn as a performer and teacher. It also captures the achievements of his illustrious ancestors such as Sitar Ratna Ustad Rahmat Khan and Sitar Nawaz Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and their invaluable contributions to the world of Sitar music. Different perspectives about Ustad Rafique Khan penned by his friends and associates are included in this book thus providing a multi-dimensional view into his persona. Romancing the Sitar is a sincere attempt to introduce a Sitar artiste of international fame yet a humble man from the coastal city of Mangaluru to the world.