: In a dilapidated grave near the Khamosh Shah Dargah in Nampally, Hyderabad, is the tomb of the last musician of the Mughal darbar, Ustad Mir Qutub Baksh 'Tanras Khan.' Often overshadowed by Akbar's court musician Tansen, Tanras Khan’s contribution to Indian classical music is immense. He was both a musician at the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar II, and was also his music teacher.
His tomb is fading away in an isolated grave, with even local musicians unaware of his final resting place in their own city. Musician and founder of Parichay Arts Foundation, Jaywant Naidu, learnt of Tanras Khan’s grave during the pandemic and has since tried to visit it with his friend, a qawwali singer, only gaining access on his second attempt. He has now made a public appeal to Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy, urging him to restore Tanras Khan’s tomb and make it more accessible to the public. “This is an appeal to bring back the lost glory of this towering figure in classical music by providing a proper resting place,” writes Jaywant Naidu. He is also advocating for an annual festival to honour Tanras Khan’s contributions to the city’s musical heritage.
Tanras Khan was also stated to be a key figure in the 19th century Indian classical music, known for his intricate khayal performances, occasional qawwali, and fast-paced taan, which earned him the title 'Tanras.' After the fall of the Mughal Empire, Tanras Khan moved from Gwalior to Hyderabad, spending his f.