Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (), a master of the sarod, His performances worldwide have established the modern sarod idiom and contributed to greater awareness of Indian classical music. Ali Akbar Khan was born on April 14, 1922 in the village of Shibpur, Comilla, in present-day Bangladesh (then East Bengal), to Baba Allauddin Khan and Madina Begum. Khan began his studies in vocal and instrumental music at very early age under his father. He also studied drums from his uncle, Fakir Aftabuddin. Allauddin Khan trained him on several instruments, but decided finally that he must concentrate on the sarod. After years of rigorous training he gave his debut performance in his mid-teens. Khan became the court musician of the royal family of Jodhpur at the age of 22. Khan performed all over India to great applause and rave critical acclaim, and also traveled the world extensively in the West. In 1956, Khan founded the Ali Akbar College of Music in Calcutta, with