Yunus Alvi | Mewat, Alwar
Yusuf Khan is a trained engineer, but he chose a different path—one rooted in heritage, culture and music. Rather than pursuing a conventional career, the 30-year-old dedicated himself to preserving and promoting the rich folk traditions of Mewat, carrying forward a legacy for which his forefathers earned recognition and honours.
Belonging to the renowned Mewat Gharana, Yusuf comes from a family respected for its contribution to folk music and the preservation of the traditional Bhapang, a unique musical instrument closely associated with the region's cultural identity.
Mewat has produced several artists who have taken its folk traditions far beyond geographical boundaries. Following in the footsteps of his ancestors, Yusuf Khan Jogi Mewati has introduced the folk culture of Mewat to audiences across the world and has even performed before Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
A resident of Mungaska village in Rajasthan's Alwar district, Yusuf was born into a family deeply rooted in folk music. His grandfather, Zahoor Khan Jogi Mewati, and father, Umar Farukh, were respected figures in the world of folk art. Music became Yusuf's inheritance, and from an early age he absorbed the nuances of the tradition by listening to and learning from his grandfather.
At a time when many traditional art forms are struggling to survive amid modern entertainment, Yusuf has not only preserved his family's heritage but also helped bring it to new audiences and platforms.
The Bhapang is a distinctive folk instrument of the Mewat region and eastern Rajasthan. Classified as a single-string percussion instrument, it is often described as one of the most unique instruments in Indian folk music. According to folk tradition, its origins are linked to Lord Shiva's Damru. The instrument holds special significance during Shivratri and other religious occasions.
When the rhythmic beats of the Bhapang blend with folk singing, they create a captivating musical experience that has enchanted audiences for generations.
Yusuf has performed in more than 20 countries, including Portugal, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Nepal. Through these performances, he has introduced international audiences to the rich folk culture of Mewat.
He first attracted widespread media attention after performing before Mark Zuckerberg. His popularity further grew through appearances on programmes such as Jano Apna Desh Suno Kahani and India's Got Talent on Doordarshan.
Recently, Yusuf was selected for the Junior Fellowship (2025–26) awarded by the Ministry of Culture. He has also received several prestigious honours, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and the Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Puraskar.
Yet perhaps Yusuf's greatest achievement lies beyond the stage and the applause it brings. His most significant contribution has been the documentation of Mewat's oral traditions.
For centuries, the folk tales of Mewat survived only through collective memory and the voices of traditional singers, making them vulnerable to gradual disappearance. Recognising this threat, Yusuf undertook the task of documenting these invaluable cultural treasures and has so far recorded 17 major folk narratives.
These include important folk ballads based on the Mahabharata, such as Pandav Ka Kada, Krishna Leela, Lanka Chadhai, Dhola Marvan and Jahar Peer Ki Baat, all performed in the Mewati language. He is regarded as one of the pioneers in documenting the Mewati rendition of the Mahabharata.
In recent years, alongside the recognition received by Padma Shri awardee Gafruddin Jogi Mewati, voices from the region have grown stronger in demanding recognition for the contributions of Zahoor Khan Jogi Mewati and his family.
Today, Yusuf Khan stands as a worthy representative of that enduring legacy, ensuring that the music, stories and traditions of Mewat continue to resonate with future generations.
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.webp "Hafiz Ahmed's photograph of Bagurumba dance")
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