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Even in the first modern city of India, roots of tradition are firm. If one needed proof, Ustad Nile Khan, the city-based Sufi singer, who is performing at the 5-day Jaipur Literature Festival, on January 22, is one in flesh and blood. Khan’s act, the opening act of a session on Punjab and its literature being conducted by writer-journalist Nirupama Dutt, would be 45 minutes long and would include the kalaam of Bulle Shah, Heer by Waris Shah and a song-poem by Shiv Kumar Batalvi.
Khan feels he is going for a pilgrimage. “If they let me, I’d sing for as long as possible. Singing is my connection with God.” The 40-something Ustad is the third generation of a singing family. “And I am taking the tradition forward with my school, where I have around 50 disciples,” he tells. Himself a product of Ripudaman College, Nabha, Khan believes Sufi singing is as popular as ever thanks to college fests. “I have also trained under Ustad Iddu Khan (his grandfather) and Utad Labhu Khan to hone my skills,” he adds. Khan credits the heart of the city (Sector 17, that is) for being the place where he first got noticed “and I expect to win the heart of the Pink City as well”. Amen!
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