From whatever I have read, heard or seen about the man, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan comes through as a cool, classy and cultured personality. Recipient of many an award, inventor of many a new Raga and a sought-after performer at many an international music festival, this handsome and charismatic artiste has brought a once not too famous string instrument sarod into the world music mainstream. In the process he has become a cultural ambassador for Indian classical music. Magical sounds emanating from his sarod- strings not only enthrall the audiences but envelop their senses with a deep peace and harmony.

When I start off this telephonic interview, the master throws the first question at me. "Have you visited our web-site Sarod.com?" Luckily I happen to have visited the beautifully crafted and quite informative web site, detailing information about sarod and musical achievements of Khan- saab and his sons Amaan and Ayaan. My answer in affirmative seems to convince the great man that I have done my basic home-work. As I complement him on being one of the few Indian music maestros having an official net-presence, he promptly credits his young sons for having done that. A real doting father! From then on the interview proceeds smoothly, except for the times when the master tries to check my none-too-sound knowledge about classical music and finds me in deep hot waters!

The name ‘Sarod’ comes from a Persian word ‘Surood’ meaning music or a song. Sarod is an extension of a Central Asian folk musical string instrument Rabab, which is still played in Kashmir. The Sikh priest Guru Nanak was very fond of Rabab and Khan Mardana- one of his disciples used to play it very well. My forefathers brought Rabab from Afghanistan to India and gradually modified and developed it into Sarod. Fingerboard of Rabab is made of wood whereas that of sarod is made of steel. Sarod has 19 strings which produce a lyrical sound with melodic tone and sustained notes.

Our Bangash family has been the inventor and developer of sarod. My forefathers also received training in traditional Indian classical music from descendents of the legendary singer Miyan Tansen. So belonging to this prestigious Senia- Bangash musical tradition, I am the sixth generation and my sons the seventh generation of sarod players from our family. I received my training from my father Hafiz Ali Khan, who was the royal instrumentalist for Maharaja of Gwalior. I can proudly say that wherever in this world, sarod is played that music has been learnt either directly or indirectly from my family.

My wife Subhalakshmi is an accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer but she sacrificed her career for looking after my family. I owe a lot to her supportive presence in my life and career.

From childhood, I have strived to sing through sarod. Actually any music in this world is bound within same seven notes. Classical instrumental music is the purest form of music. In Hindi we say "Swar Hi Ishwar Hai, meaning Sound is God". For me, that is the ultimate truth. I don’t look at music as my profession- it is my passion, my wa