Naubat Khan

Naubat Khan (also known as Ali Khan Karori) was a prominent Indian classical music composer, musician and instrumentalist. He was an influential musician of his time. The rudra veena, also called the bin, came into prominence during the time of Tansen's contemporary, and son-in-law, Naubat Khan. In the paintings of the time, it is clearly Naubat Khan and not Tansen who is associated with the instrument. Naubat Khan was the honorary title conferred by Mughal Emperor Jahangir on Ali Khan Karori.

Naubat Khan was the grandson of Maharaja Samokhan Singh of Kishangarh, and the son-in-law of the legendary Tansen. Samokhan Singh, a Jodhpur prince, was himself a great veena player of his time. He was defeated by the forces of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and his grandson Misri Singh (Naubat Khan) was kept under house arrest. Misri Singh later converted to Islam and was named Ali. He was trained under Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, the son of Bairam Khan. Ali was given the title of Khan by Akbar, and the post of Karori, i.e., Finance minister. Ali Khan Karori was later given the prestigious position of the darogha of the Naqqar Khana. Jahangir conferred on Ali Khan Karori the honorary title of Naubat Khan and promoted him to the rank of 500 personnel and 200 horse.

Naubat Khan first married Ahmad Khan Mughal's daughter. After his first wife's death, he married Tansen's daughter, Saraswati. Saraswati accepted Islam and was named Hussaini. They had a son named Lal Khan. Lal Khan was the son-in-law of Tansen's son Bilas Khan. Lal Khan was the chief musician of Emperor Shahjahan. Shahajahan conferred on him the title of Gunsamundra.

Hussain Quli presents prisoners of war to Akbar, a view of the bin player Naubat Khan (in white dress holding Rudra Vina), illustration from the Akbar-nama, Mughal school, towards 1590.Victoria & Albert Museum U.K.

Only highly ranked figures of the court enjoyed the privilege of being painted alone or within an assembly by the painters of the court and Naubat Khan is one of the rare musicians – along with the illustrious singer-composer Tansen – to have been the subject of an individual portrait. He was painted by Ustad Mansur during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Portrait of Naubat Khan Kalawant by Ustad Mansur,Mughal School, towards 1600 British Museum London

Naubat Khan was the founder of the Beenkar dynasty of India. His direct descendants commanded respect in musical circles for several centuries. Notable members of this family are

• Lal Khan Gunsamundra (Chief musician of Shahjahan, son-in-law of Tansen's son Bilas Khan)
• Khushal Khan Gunsamundra (Title of Gunsamundra conferred by Shahjahan)
• Bhupat Khan
• Sadarang(Chief musician of Muhammad Shah)
• Feroz Khan Adarang
• Sidhar Khan
• Omrao Khan Beenkar
• Ameer Khan
• Wazir Khan (Master of Hamid Ali Khan of Rampur, Allauddin Khan, Hafiz Ali Khan, Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande)
• Dabir Khan

Naubat Khan the Vina Player, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston