hen fate intends to bestow greatness and fame upon a person, it orchestrates the circumstances in ways beyond imagination. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, was born on October 13, 1948, into a renowned family of qawwals, who had migrated from Jalandhar to Lyallpur. The seeds of his legendary status were sown even before his birth.

Dularay Khan, a cousin of Nusrat, talks about the remarkable history of their family. It has been associated with the art of qawwali for longer than six centuries. He traces his lineage back to the iconic Amir Khusro.

“Our ancestors hailed from Jalandhar. After the creation of Pakistan, they migrated to Lyallpur and settled near the shrine of Baba Lasoori Shah,” he says. “Our ancestors had a deep spiritual connection with Baba Lasoori Shah and would perform qawwali at his annual urs even before the partition.”

Dularay Khan recounts, “At birth, Nusrat was named Pervez, but our spiritual guide, Pir Sher Muhammad Khan, advised that his name be changed to Nusrat. He said, ‘This name will become famous worldwide.’ That prophesy came true,” he says.

Within months after Nusrat’s birth in 1949, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, a migrant from Amritsar, founded the Rahmat Gramophone House in Aminpur Bazaar, near the Clock Tower. Little did Chaudhry Rehmat know then that one day he would play a pivotal role in introducing the future ‘King of Qawwali’ to the world.

Mian Muhammad Asad, son of the late Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, the founder of Rahmat Gramophone House, fondly recalls that his father tried his hand at various occupations after migrating from Amritsar to Lyallpur. However, none of these ventures seemed to work for him.

“During those days, gramophone records were a new phenomenon. Since my father had a passion for music, he decided to start a business selling gramophone records under the name Rahmat Gramophone. Over time, this business flourished and became one of the leading recording studios, not only in Pakistan but across the subcontinent,” he says.

Asad says, “Nusrat used to perform at private gatherings and at the urs of Baba Lasoori Shah, which was held near our house. My father brought Nusrat into the world of commercial music. His first recording at our studio was the album Yaadan Vichhray Sajjan Diyaan Aayiyan. It became incredibly popular. Following that, Nusrat released Ali Maula, which took his fame to even greater heights.“

Asad recalls that during his school days he often saw Nusrat at Rahmat Gramophone House and family gatherings. “I was a fan of his art and personality since childhood, but it wasn’t until 1992, when I formally joined my father’s business, that I developed a professional relationship with him,” he says.

He proudly states that the RGH has the distinction of recording the most music albums for Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - more than 100. Asad also recalls a pivotal moment in Nusrat’s career, his first solo recording. “Once, Nusrat came to the RGH for a recording session, but his qawwali group didn’t show up. My father urged him, ‘Come on, Khan Sahib, let’s record a solo track today. Initially, Nusrat was hesitant, but upon my father’s insistence, he agreed. A poet present at the studio quickly wrote a ghazaland Nusrat recorded his first solo performance.“

One of the most iconic pieces from his early solo recordings was Sunn Charkhay Di Mitthi Mitthi Kook. “When this ghazal was released, it took his career to new heights, captivating huge audiences. However, this also caused tension with some members of his qawwali group, who feared that Nusrat might no longer need them,“ he says.

“Once, Nusrat came to RGH for arecording session, but his qawwali group didn’t show up. My father urged him, ‘Come on, Khan Sahib, let’s record a solo track today. Initially, Nusrat was hesitant, but upon my father’s insistence, he agreed. A poet present at the studio quickly wrote a ghazal and Nusrat recorded his first solo performance.“

Asad says Nusrat was an extremely gifted musician who achieved greatness through relentless hard work from a young age. “He had a remarkable talent for playing the tabla, which he had mastered in his youth. My father once shared a story from Nusrat’s childhood. When Nusrat was 10 or 11 years old, there was a qawwali event where no tabla player was available. Nusrat was asked to step in and he delivered an exceptional performance. When the singers stopped, Nusrat continued playing, mesmerising the audience with his endurance and skill,” he says.

Mian Asad says Nusrat and his father, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, shared a deep bond that went beyond the business relationship. “They were close friends. Nusrat would drop by the RGH just to chat with my father. I remember he found regular chairs uncomfortable, so my brother had a special sofa made for him, where he could sit comfortably for as long as he wished,” he says.

Asad says Nusrat regarded his father as a mentor and an elder. “It was my father who had introduced him to the world of recording. It not only brought Nusrat immense fame but also elevated the RGH’s reputation,” he says.

Even after Nusrat had gained international recognition and became a global star, his relationship with the Chaudhry family remained strong. Asad remembers an episode the 1990s when Nusrat was at the peak of his fame. “My father and elder brother went to visit Nusrat in Lahore, where he was meeting a foreign delegation. His staff seated them in the waiting room where they remained for almost an hour. When Nusrat learnt about this, he immediately left the meeting, came out barefoot, and personally escorted my father and brother inside. He then sternly rebuked his staff saying, ‘Do you know who these people are?’”

Asad says Nusrat never let money affect his relationships with people. “At the height of his career, if my father asked him to perform somewhere, he never refused. He never even discussed money. My father would always go and pay him after the event,“ he remembers.

Mian Asad is full of admiration for Nusrat’s character. “No amount of praise can do justice to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. He was a man of touching humility, saint-like. I’ve never met anyone quite like him. His music was unparalleled. His legacy lives on and his popularity continues to grow,“ he says.

Asad says that if a hundred of his songs were played in a row, no one would ever feel the need to skip any of those. “Each of his qawwalis and ghazals is a masterpiece,” he adds.

The RGH has preserved the material they have on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “I will gladly provide the recordings, free of charge to anyone who needs them. Khan Sahib’s name will live on, but I want to make sure it shines brighter,” Asad says.

Recently, Real World Records, a recording studio based in London, released an album titled Chain of Light, featuring four qawwalis by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan that were recorded 34 years ago. Speaking on this release, Mian Asad noted that Nusrat’s fans now have the opportunity to listen to some of his previously unreleased work.

He says that he too has several unreleased recordings of Nusrat with him. “We will release it at the right time so that his fans find joy in his art,“ he says.

Mian Asad, they have preserved recordings of 50-60 qawwalis and ghazals by Nusrat that are yet to be released. He says that he is in contact with Nusrat’s daughter, Nida Nusrat, and plans to launch the project in association with her.

Asad says people recognise him and his family due to their association with Rahmat Gramophone House and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “My daughter, Sameen Asad, was a student at the National Textile University. At one point, the university assigned her a thesis project on Rahmat Gramophone House with a particular focus on Nusrat’s contribution. It received overwhelming praise,“ he says.

It has been 27 years since Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan passed away and nearly a decade since the closure of Rahmat Gramophone House. However their legacy lives on and is widely cherished.

The writer has been associated with journalism for the past decade. He tweets @ naeemahmad876