You, Nusrat, touched countless lives even after your death: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

Honouring the Shahenshah-e-qawwali on his 25th death anniversary

Late legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was remembered on his 25^th death anniversary on Tuesday. His nephew and renowned singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan took to Twitter to remember his mentor and the late legend. "You touched countless lives during your life and even after your death," he pointed out. "You live through your music and your family legacy. You will always be missed!" he added.

Actor Shaan Shahid also termed Nusrat a 'true ambassador of Pakistan'. He tweeted, "True ambassador of Pakistan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice and knowledge was a gift of Allah. He took Pakistan to the world and his work will never be forgotten as he lives amongst his lovers. The pride of Pakistan, may he rest in eternal peace."

You had touched countless lives in your lifetime & even after your death, you live through your music & your family legacy, You will always be missed!

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - October 13, 1948 - August 16, 1997 pic.twitter.com/6LVQVKbxKf

— Rahat Fateh Ali Khan (@RFAKWorld) August 16, 2022

#trueambassdor of Pakistan his voice and knowledge was a gift of ALLAH .. as he took Pakistan to the world his work will never be forgotten as he lives amongst his lovers . #nfak pride of Pakistan . May he rest in eternal peace ♥️🇵🇰👑 @RFAKWorld @ pic.twitter.com/Wd9S14QXsE

— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) August 16, 2022

Born on October 13, 1948, Nusrat died in London of liver and kidney diseases at the age of 49 on August 16, 1997.

Fond of qawwali since childhood, Nusrat was initially discouraged to take up the profession since his father, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, believed it is not paid respect to. Nusrat's first performance was at his father’s chehlum while his first public performance was a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival organized by Radio Pakistan.

Moving forward, he teamed up with the likes of Peter Gabriel for the soundtrack of The Last Temptation of Christ in 1985, with Canadian musician Michael Brook on the albums Mustt Mustt (1990) and Night Song (1996) and with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder in 1995 on two songs for the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking.

His album Intoxicated Spirit was nominated for a Grammy award in 1997 for best traditional folk album. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Fateh holds the world record for the largest recorded output by a Qawwali artist-a total of 125 albums as of 2001.

It is due to Nusrat's efforts and collaborations with various Western artists that qawwali is now a popular genre globally. TIME magazine's issue of November 6, 2006, 60 Years of Asian Heroes, lists Nusrat as one of the top 12 artists and thinkers in the last 60 years. Five documentaries have also been made on him.

In honour of his 20^th death anniversary, Rahat had noted, "I started learning music from Nusrat when I was six. I would wait for him to give me the cue to start singing. He noticed that I was very keen about it, so he enjoyed training me as well. I want to add that whatever I perform and whatever that I am, is all thanks to my uncle. No one has contributed to the music industry the way my uncle has."

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