Ustad Bismillah Khan

The Shehnai legend Ustad Bismillah Khan was born with a legacy of musicians in Dumraon, Bihar, on 21st March’1916. He was Ustad Salar Hussain Baksh's grandson and Rasool Baksh Khan's great-grandson, who were both the Shehnai Nawaz at the Bhojpur King's Court. He was the talent-fueled son of Mitthan, and his father, Paigambar Khan, who used to play Shehnai at the court of Maharaja Keshav Prashad Singh. At first, he was named Qamaruddin Khan, but the name that made history was altered when his grandfather referred to him as Bismillah. Vishva Bharat University and Banaras Hindu University were the holy institutes from which he completed his Honorary Doctorate.

But, his passion for instruments and music was engraved from when he was three years old and he visited his maternal uncle with his mother. Ali Baksh' Vilayatu' inspired and fascinated Bismillah to pursue his magnificent gift of playing Shehnai, making it a recognizable mode of art and music worldwide. Ustad Bismillah often accompanied Ali Baksh Ji to various music conferences. But, he first played in 1937 at the All India Music Conference in Calcutta, where he brought light to Shehnai as an instrument that was much cherished. Then, his big career launch was marked by Indian Radio in 1938.

He was one of the honourable musicians to be able to portray their art at the Independence Day Celebration in India, in 1947, beside Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. His work then started being appreciated overseas, with an international debut in Afghanistan, followed by various countries like the USA, Japan, West Africa etc. Eventually, he even participated in the Cannes Festival, Osaka Trade Fair and World Exposition in Montreal. His work can also be seen in films like 'Goonj Uthi Shehnai' and 'Sanaadi Appanna'.

Before his demise on 21st August’2006 from a cardiac arrest, he had accomplished some noble lifetime achievements in the form of the Padmashri Award in 1961, the Rajiv Gandhi National Sabhavana Award in 1994, Padma Vibhushan in 1980, Padma Bhushan in 1968, Bharat Ratna Award in 2001. In addition, he won the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the Tansen Award, and Talar Mausiquee Award from the government of Iran for his immense contributions to the art of music.