British Asian Trust Ends Association with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has found himself in hot water after a video of him physically assaulting a man went viral. The incident led to King Charles' British Asian Trust severing its ties with Khan, who had been appointed as an ambassador for the organization in 2017 by Prince Charles.
In the video, Khan is seen slapping a man and hitting him with a shoe after a verbal altercation. The dispute apparently arose over a bottle, with Khan asking the man for it, and the man claiming not to know about it. In response, Khan threatened, "Main tujhe maruga (I will beat you)," before proceeding to physically assault the individual.
The video quickly circulated on the internet, drawing widespread criticism from viewers around the world. As a result, the British Asian Trust took swift action to distance itself from Khan. A spokesperson for the Trust emphasized their strict policy against abusive behavior and announced the termination of any association with the singer.
"We strongly condemn any form of violence, whatever the circumstances," the spokesperson stated, reflecting the organization's commitment to maintaining high standards of conduct among its ambassadors.
The Trust issued a statement over the weekend, declaring that they take all accusations of abuse seriously and would investigate the matter urgently. This move underscores the organization's commitment to upholding its values and ensuring that those representing it align with these principles.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had been appointed as an ambassador for the British Asian Trust in 2017, with the announcement made by then Prince Charles. The severance of ties comes as a significant development given the singer's prominent role in representing the organization.
In response to the backlash, Khan released a clarification video featuring the man involved in the incident, who claimed to be the singer's student. Khan explained that the bottle in question did not contain liquor but held holy water blessed by a religious cleric. The video aimed to provide context to the incident and shed light on the nature of the relationship between Khan and the man.
"This is about a personal issue between an ustad and shagird. He is like my son. This is how the relationship is between a teacher and student. If a disciple does something good, I shower my love on him. If he does something wrong, he is punished," Khan stated in the video.
The man in the video, who identified himself as Khan's student, reiterated the nature of their relationship, emphasizing that Khan is like a father to him. He explained that the bottle contained 'holy water,' and the video was an attempt to insult his teacher. Khan also claimed to have apologized to the man after the incident.
Support for Khan came from the man's father, who explained the dynamics of the ustad (teacher) and shagird (student) relationship in the field of Qawalli, a form of devotional music in South Asia. The father's support aimed to contextualize the incident within the framework of the traditional teacher-student bond in the world of Qawalli.
The controversy surrounding Rahat Fateh Ali Khan serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by public figures in the age of social media, where actions can be quickly disseminated and scrutinized by a global audience. The British Asian Trust's decision to sever ties underscores the importance of holding ambassadors accountable for their behavior and upholding the values of the organizations they represent.
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By- Sahiba Suri
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