Former assistant commissioner of police D R Khadke, who initiated the Ustad Alladiya Khan Music Festival in Chembur, died on Friday morning at a suburban hospital. He was 95.
According to his nephew Suresh, Khadke read the book How to Retire a year before his retirement, and subsequently, as a great fan of musical theatre, decided to learn Hindustani music.
He began training under the great singer Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar after retiring from police service.
Khadke was a recipient of the Indian Police Medal in 1968, and the President’s Award in 1975.
He started the Chembur festival in 1978 in memory of legendary Hindustani singer Ustad Alladiya Khan of the Atrauli gharana, when he came to know that the singer’s death anniversary went unobserved. “He asked Pandit Sadolikar whether he could start a festival in Ustad Alladiya Khan’s memory,” said Suresh.
The festival has provided a platform for upcoming artistes in the Hindustani tradition, as well as vocal and instrumental music maestros.
His funeral will take place on Saturday with full police honours. His family said since there would be no rituals after the funeral, a programme of bhajans will be held at Chembur’s Bal Vikas Hall on January 25.The music festival is scheduled for April at the same venue.
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