An international music star, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was presented with Doctorate of Music on Wednesday. The world-renowned Oxford University on Wednesday awarded iconic Pakistani qawwal and playback singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan an honorary doctorate ceremony in Oxford.
On receiving his honorary doctorate, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan performed at the Oxford Town Hall on Thursday. The special evening marked the occasion with a stellar performance of qawwalis.
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said, “I am honoured to be accepting this degree from Oxford University, a world-famous educational institution. This is a very special day for my family and I but also for my fans, who have shared this journey with me. "To be presented with this honour is a massive achievement and I am happy that my music has allowed me to reach such incredible heights.”
Oxford University has previously recognised Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's work by naming one of their prestigious music halls after the maestro. He carries the torch for a family that has a rich cultural history in music, a heritage that includes over 600 years in Sufi and Qawwali music folklore, initially made famous in modern pop culture by his uncle, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In recent times, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has won numerous globally-recognised awards, performed for the British royal family at Buckingham Palace, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, and amassed over a billion views on his music videos.
