About New

Learning from the Best

My guru is Ustad Arshad Khan – my uncle and one of the finest Esraj players alive today. Learning from him means I’m not just learning technique. I’m learning family history, musical philosophy, the weight of keeping a tradition alive.

But I’ve also been guided by my father, Ustad Amjad Khan. His knowledge, his approach, his understanding of music – all of that is infused in how I play and think about the Esraj.

Growing up in this family, watching Ustad Arshad Khan accompany everyone from Shreya Ghoshal to Shankar Mahadevan, seeing his Esraj in Bollywood films and MTV shows – I understood early on that this instrument could go anywhere if you believed in it enough.

The Formal Training

I’ve done my Prabhakar in Esraj from Prayag Sangeet Samiti – that’s the formal classical training that gives you the foundation, the discipline, the understanding of how this music actually works.

Then I pursued Music Honours from the Faculty of Music at Hindu College, Delhi University. That academic perspective added another layer – understanding music theory, history, the broader context of where the Esraj fits in Indian classical music.

Both matter. The traditional training and the academic study. Together, they give you the complete picture.

Sharing What I Know

I’ve been incredibly lucky to share this knowledge beyond just performing:

Teaching and Workshops

• Gave a lecture-cum-demonstration at Jamia Millia Islamia University among postgraduate honours students. Standing in front of serious music students and explaining the Esraj, its history, its technique – that was special.
• Conducted workshops for government students through Sahitya Kala Parishad. Taking the Esraj to young people who might never have heard of it? That’s the kind of work that keeps rare instruments alive.

Performances

I’ve performed at Naadvistar and even the IIFA Awards. From intimate classical settings to massive Bollywood award shows – the Esraj can hold its own anywhere.

Each performance is a chance to make someone curious about this instrument. Maybe they’ll look it up later. Maybe they’ll dig deeper. Maybe one of them will even decide to learn it.

Why This Website Exists

Here’s my aim with Esraj.in: to preserve the contributions and valuable information I’ve gathered from being close to my grandfather, learning from my father, and training in this tradition.

So much knowledge about the Esraj isn’t documented anywhere. It lives in the memories of a few musicians, in family stories, in techniques passed down teacher to student. If we don’t record it, write it down, share it – it disappears when those musicians are gone.

My grandfather’s story – how he pioneered Esraj in ghazal – that needs to be known.

My father’s work – bringing the instrument to millions through films and collaborations – that deserves recognition.

The technical knowledge of how to play, how to maintain, how to understand this rare instrument – all of that needs to be accessible.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Being Ustad Allauddin Khan’s grandson isn’t just about family pride. It’s about responsibility. He spent six decades proving the Esraj belonged in the musical conversation. The least I can do is make sure people remember what he accomplished.

My uncle and guru, Ustad Arshad Khan, continues that work every time he performs. My father, Ustad Amjad Khan, has guided me with his deep knowledge. And I’m trying, in my own way, to add my chapter to this story.

Will I reach my grandfather’s level? Probably not – he was one of a kind. But I can document what he did. I can teach what I’ve learned. I can keep his approach, his innovations, his vision alive through this platform.

What I Hope For

I want Esraj.in to be the place people come when they’re curious about this instrument. Whether you’re a music student researching rare instruments, a listener who heard an Esraj in a film and wants to know more, or someone considering learning this beautiful instrument – I want you to find answers here.

I want my grandfather’s legacy preserved. I want my uncle and guru’s contributions recognized. I want my father’s guidance honored. I want Pt. Ranadhir Roy’s innovations documented. I want the technical knowledge accessible. I want the history told properly.

And honestly? I just want more people to hear the Esraj and fall in love with it the way I have.

Six Years and Counting

I’ve only been playing for six years. I’m still learning. There’s so much more to discover, so much more to master.

But I know enough to understand what we’re at risk of losing. The Esraj is rare – officially listed as one of the rare instruments of India. If we don’t actively work to keep it alive, it won’t survive.

So that’s what Esraj.in is about. Preservation. Education. Celebration. Making sure this incredible instrument and the artists who’ve dedicated their lives to it aren’t forgotten.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for being curious. Thanks for caring about keeping rare traditions alive.

Let’s make sure the Esraj’s story continues.

Anas Ahmed

Founder, Esraj.in
Grandson of Ustad Allauddin Khan
Student of Ustad Arshad Khan
Guided by Ustad Amjad Khan