# Qawwal Bachchon ka Gharana

The Qawwal Bacchon Ka Gharana or Dilli Gharana is the oldest khayal gharana of the Hindustani Classical music tradition. It was founded by Amir Khusrau (1253-1325) and his students in the 13th century.

## History

The members of this gharana have lived in Delhi for many generations. The gharana was founded by the disciples of Amir Khusrau, a pioneer of qawwali, tarana and khayal. As a result, this gharana specializes in these genres.

## Pedagogical genealogy

| Hazrat Amir Khusrau (progenitor) ||||||
| Qawwal Bacchon (12 Disciples) ||||||
| Zainulabdin Khan | Zainulabdin Khan | Zainulabdin Khan | Zainulabdin Khan | Zainulabdin Khan | Zainulabdin Khan | Shakkar Khan | Shakkar Khan | Shakkar Khan | Shakkar Khan | Shakkar Khan | Shakkar Khan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | Achapal Miyan (founder) | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | "Manarang" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | Meer Qutub Baksh "Tanras Khan" | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | Bade Muhammad Khan (luminary) | | | | | | | | |
| Umrao Khan | Umrao Khan | Umrao Khan | Umrao Khan | Umrao Khan | Umrao Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | Ghulam Ghaus Khan | | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | Bade Mubarak Ali Khan | | Bade Murad Ali Khan | Bade Murad Ali Khan | Bade Murad Ali Khan | Bade Murad Ali Khan | Bade Murad Ali Khan | Bade Murad Ali Khan | | | Waris Ali Khan | Waris Ali Khan | Waris Ali Khan | Waris Ali Khan | Waris Ali Khan | Waris Ali Khan | | | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | Bade Munnawar Ali Khan | | | Kutub Ali Khan | Kutub Ali Khan | Kutub Ali Khan | Kutub Ali Khan | Kutub Ali Khan | Kutub Ali Khan | | | | | | |
| Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | | | | | | | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | | | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) |
| Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | Sanghi Khan | | | | | | | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | Ali Baksh Khan & Fateh Ali Khan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | Ghagge Nazir Khan | | | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | Wahid Khan (beenkar) | | | | | | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan | Abdul Rahim & Abdul Karim Khan |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Patiala Gharana Parampara | Patiala Gharana Parampara | Patiala Gharana Parampara | Patiala Gharana Parampara | Patiala Gharana Parampara | Patiala Gharana Parampara | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mewati Gharana Parampara | Mewati Gharana Parampara | Mewati Gharana Parampara | Mewati Gharana Parampara | Mewati Gharana Parampara | Mewati Gharana Parampara | | |
| Mamman Khan (founder) | Mamman Khan (founder) | Mamman Khan (founder) | Mamman Khan (founder) | Mamman Khan (founder) | Mamman Khan (founder) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Samman Khan | Samman Khan | Samman Khan | Samman Khan | Samman Khan | Samman Khan | | | Sugra Khan | Sugra Khan | Sugra Khan | Sugra Khan | Sugra Khan | Sugra Khan | | | Kaley Khan | Kaley Khan | Kaley Khan | Kaley Khan | Kaley Khan | Kaley Khan | | | | | | | |
| Johan Khan (violin) | Johan Khan (violin) | Johan Khan (violin) | Johan Khan (violin) | Johan Khan (violin) | Johan Khan (violin) | Chand Khan | Chand Khan | Chand Khan | Chand Khan | Chand Khan | Chand Khan | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | Bundu Khan (sarangiya) | | Usman Khan | Usman Khan | Usman Khan | Usman Khan | Usman Khan | Usman Khan | | | | | | | | | | | Ramzan Khan | Ramzan Khan | Ramzan Khan | Ramzan Khan | Ramzan Khan | Ramzan Khan | | | Mammu Khan | Mammu Khan | Mammu Khan | Mammu Khan | Mammu Khan | Mammu Khan |
| Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Zahoor Ahmed Khan (violinist) | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Hilal Ahmed Khan | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | Zafar Ahmed Khan (sitarist) | | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | Shakil Ahmed Khan (tabalist) | | | Nasir Ahmed Khan | Nasir Ahmed Khan | Nasir Ahmed Khan | Nasir Ahmed Khan | Nasir Ahmed Khan | Nasir Ahmed Khan | | | | | | | | | | | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) | Mohammed Ali Khan (sursagarist) |
| Iqbal Ahmad Khan | Iqbal Ahmad Khan | Iqbal Ahmad Khan | Iqbal Ahmad Khan | Iqbal Ahmad Khan | Iqbal Ahmad Khan | | | | | | | Kamran Ahmed Khan | Kamran Ahmed Khan | Kamran Ahmed Khan | Kamran Ahmed Khan | Kamran Ahmed Khan | Kamran Ahmed Khan | | Imran Ahmed Khan | Imran Ahmed Khan | Imran Ahmed Khan | Imran Ahmed Khan | Imran Ahmed Khan | Imran Ahmed Khan | | | Tanvir Ahmed Khan | Tanvir Ahmed Khan | Tanvir Ahmed Khan | Tanvir Ahmed Khan | Tanvir Ahmed Khan | Tanvir Ahmed Khan |

## Style

Members of this gharana approach raagdari with more freedom than the dhrupad-informed gharanas, like Gwalior, Jaipur, and Agra. Emphasis on bhav and exposition are the hallmarks of this style.

### Repertoire

In addition to extensive khayal compositions, the gharana is known for its qawwals.

## Controversy

Some orthodox members of Indian classical music world do not regard the Delhi gharana as an "authentic" one because its members include a number of tabla and sarangi players. Some believe these members do not represent a truly unique musical style. Scholars note the individual quality of each generation's leading singer. Though, this tradition is a gharana in familial terms.
It is strictly forbidden to play Sarangi in the tradition of the original Qawwal Bacche.

## Exponents

* Amir Khusrau
* Ghagge Nazir Khan
* Wahid Khan
* Munshi Raziuddin
* Ustad Naseeruddin Saami
* Manzoor Ahmed Khan Niazi
* Fareed Ayaz
* Abdullah Niazi Qawwal
* Bahauddin Khan
* Tanras Khan
* Warsi Brothers
* Fateh Ali Khan
* Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
* Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan
* Rahat Fateh Ali Khan