Ut. Mushtaq Ali Khan was the sitar player of which Gharana ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan was universally recognized as the foremost representative of the **Senia Gharana** (or Senia-baj) of Sitar playing in the mid-20th century. His lineage traces directly back to Masit Sen, the inventor of the slow instrumental composition known as the Masitkhani Gat or Baaj. This gharana is revered for its purist approach, emphasizing the *Been Ang* (Veena style) and focusing on a clean, unornamented, and deeply traditional sound. Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan was celebrated for strictly adhering to this classical purity, making his name synonymous with the Senia tradition.

The incorrect option is 1:
Maihar is incorrect. The Maihar Gharana is a highly respected tradition of instrumental music, famously associated with the great polymath and Surbahar/Sarod exponent, Baba Allauddin Khan. This gharana's Sitar lineage is prominently represented by one of Khan Sahab's contemporaries and later stalwarts, Pandit Ravi Shankar. The Maihar style, while deeply classical, often synthesizes various instrumental and vocal elements, which differs from Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan's determined purism of the *Masitkhani* style.

The incorrect option is 3:
Gauripur is incorrect. While there are numerous local music traditions, Gauripur is not recognized as one of the principal, historically dominant, or foundational Sitar *gharanas* in the established Hindustani classical music tradition. The major Sitar traditions are generally considered the Senia (Delhi/Jaipur) and the Etawah (Imdadkhani) schools. Therefore, this option does not align with the established, well-documented lineage of a globally renowned maestro like Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan.

The incorrect option is 4:
Etawah is incorrect. The Etawah Gharana, which is also called the Imdadkhani Gharana, is an entirely separate and equally important school of Sitar playing. This tradition is famously associated with Ustad Imdad Khan, Ustad Enayat Khan, and Ustad Vilayat Khan. While Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan rose to prominence following the demise of Enayat Khan, their styles were distinct; the Etawah Gharana is particularly known for developing the *Gayaki Ang* (vocal style) on the Sitar, which contrasts sharply with the pure *Been Ang* championed by Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan.