Born on April 2, 1984, Rashid Niyazi comes from a prestigious lineage of Hindustani Classical musicians.

Initiated into the world of music by his father, the legendary Ustad Karim Niyazi — one of India’s finest Harmonium artists — Rashid’s journey with rhythm began early and has flourished remarkably.

Rashid honed his tabla skills under the esteemed guidance of Ustad Hashmat Khan and Ustad Akram Khan of the illustrious Ajrada Gharana.

Gifted with an extraordinary sense of rhythm and deep musical intuition, he has mastered the art of Tabla with effortless command, excelling both as a solo performer and a sought-after accompanist across Indian classical, semi-classical, and light music genres.

At just 14, Rashid delivered his first public performance in New Delhi — marking the beginning of an illustrious musical journey. Since then, he has performed at some of India’s most prestigious music festivals, including:

Raajgir Mahotsav

Jhansi Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav

Sankat Mochan Sangeet Mahotsav

Subah-e-Banaras

Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan

Sawai Gandharv Festival

…and many more.

Recognized nationally and internationally, Rashid has represented India abroad through performances organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in countries like Mauritius, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Nepal — promoting the rich heritage of Hindustani classical music worldwide.

Throughout his career, Rashid has had the honor of accompanying some of the greatest maestros of our times, including:

Ustad Shahid Parvez

Pandit Rajan-Sajan Mishra

Vidushi Shanno Khurana

Ustad Rashid Khan

Pandit Bhajan Sopori

Pandit Gaurab Majumdar

Pandit Rajendra Prasanna

…and many more legends.

In addition to his illustrious performance career, Rashid is a graded artist with All India Radio and Doordarshan, and a proud empaneled artist of ICCR.

Passionate about teaching, Rashid has dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation of Tabla artists. He teaches at several leading music academies across Delhi-NCR and conducts regular workshops, keeping alive the traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara (Master-Disciple tradition) of Indian Classical music.

Through his patient mentorship and deep-rooted knowledge, he continues to inspire countless students to pursue excellence and passion in Tabla playing.

At Swar Niketan, Rashid Niyazi brings not just skill, but the living soul of India’s rich musical legacy.