बगडीको जलसा ( The gathering at Bagadi)

Portrait of Maharaj Bir Shumsher JBR. Photo source: www.royalark.net

Maharaj Bir Shumsher JBR was extremely fond of classical music. He had arranged musical greats including Taj Khan (Dhrupad) and Dhundi Khan (Raga) to stay at his palace and train his servants to sing. The two artists were formerly under the employ of the Nawab of Awadh. 5 of his servants had been trained to sing in private occasions inside the palace; they were Muga Nani, Ishakpadi Nani, Harimaya Nani and Haseena Nani.

Taj Khan and Dhundi Khan with their trainees at Maharaj Bir's palace. Photo credits: Purusottam Shumsher JBR

In Poush of 1956 BS (1899/1900 AD), Maharaj Bir organized a grand gathering of musicians and singers from all over the Indian subcontinent at Bagadi ( near modern-day Birgunj ). Almost 100 singers and musicians participated in this event, of which Ustad Rehmat Khan of Gwalior was declared as the winner. He was awarded a lot of coins and jewels as his prize.

The winner of the jalsa, Rehmat Khan, with other participants. Photo credits: Purusottam Shumsher JBR

A list of all known participants of the "Jalsa" are given below, with their style or instruments in parenthesis.

1. Gholam Hussein (Dhrupad)
2. Inayet Hussein Khan (Raga)
3. Faisal Hussein Khan (Raga)
4. Mohammad Hussein (Jaltarang)
5. Jagannath (Pakhawaj)
6. Wazir Khan (Thumari)
7. Ali Raza Khan (Sitar)
8. Sanad Khan (Raga)
9. Baldev Chaube (Raga)
10. Rehmat Khan of Gwalior (Raga) (Winner)
11. Mohammad Khan (Raga)
12. Micha Khan (Raga)
13. Alibaksh Khan (Raga)
14. Miya Jaan Khan (Raga)
15. Abdul Razzak (Raga)
16. Mehdi Hasan (Raga)
17. Govind Raut of Gwalior (Khyali)
18. Kalandar Baksh of Rampur (Classical Dance)
19. Abdul Razzak (Tabla)
20. Kalimard (Sarangiya)
21. Habibullah (Sarangiya)
22. Sansaad of Rampur (Classical Dance)
23. Ahmandbaksh (Classical Dance)
24. Maulbaksh (Classical Dance)
25. Amir Khan of Gwalior (Sitar)
26. Pir Khan (Raga)
27. Sanad Khan (Jaltarang)
28. Mir Khan (Raga and Sarangiya)
29. Narayan Rao (Tabla)
30. Nihalser Khan of Gwalior (Sitar)
31. Mundru Khan (Sarod)
32. Chunnu Khan (Sarod)
33. Shadf Ali Khan of Lucknow (Khyal)
34. Nawibaksh (Sarangiya)
35. Bilayat Ali (Tabla)
36. Khursid Ali (Tamora)
37. Raiyat Khan (Khyal)
38. Bishnupad Khan (Raga)
39. Martanda Raut (Raga)
40. Sakhaaye (Pakhawaj)
41. Ruhu (Binn)
42. Ganesh Chaube (Tabla)
43. Rambhakta Juwa (Raga)
44. Aldak Hussein (Binn)
45. Ali Ahmad Khan (Tamora)
46. Bene Singh (Pakhawaj)
47. Krishna Mishra (Pakhawaj)
48. Santaram Bhatta (Pakhawaj)
49. Nahakul Mishra of Bettiah (Dhrupad)
50. Budhho Khan (Tabla)
51. Shina Hussein Khan of Rampur (Raga)
52. Husseinbaksh (Sarangiya)
53. Gholam Hussein (Tabla)
54. Gholam Haider Khan of Sasawa (Tabla)
55. Ahmad of Rampur (Tamora)
56. Magu Jaan of Lucknow
57. Alibaksh (Sarangi)
58. Inayet Hussein of Gwalior (Tamora)
59. Begum Jaan of Lucknow
60. Jajjan Jaan (Sarangi)
61. Bandi Jaan of Lucknow
62. Nuni Jaan of Datiya
63. Aashabandi (Sarangiya)
64. Kanhaiyalal (Sarangiya)
65. Pahalman Ahmad Saddar (Sarangiya)
66. Azimuddin (Sarangiya)
67. Fatteh Khan (Sarangiya)
68. Shumsher Khan (Sarangiya)
69. Pyare Sayat
70. An unnamed Indian Band of pakhawaj players based on Sama-Veda