Shehnai Maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan is the legend of Indian classical music who needs no introduction. Whenever Shehnai is talked about Ustad Bismillah Khan is one such name that comes to our mind. Born on 21st March 1916 to a Muslim family of musicians in Bihar’s Dumraon his real name was Quamruddin Khan.
Khan’s father Paigambar Bux Khan and grandfather were great musicians. Khan was sent to Varanasi at the age of 6 to be with his uncle, Ali Bux. Ali was a Shehnai player at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Ustad used to accompany his uncle, Ali to a Music Conference at Allahabad.
Khan was invited by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on the first Independence Day 15th August 1947 to play Shehnai at the Red Fort. Khan is one of the few musicians who were accredited with the Bharat Ratna 2001 for their contribution to Indian Music.
The Maestro also participated in many international events including World Exposition in Montreal, Cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade Fair.
Khan played his melodious Shehnai in two films, one is Vijay Bhatt’s ‘Goonj Uthi Shehnai’ in 1959 and the other is Kannada film ‘Sannadi Appanna’ in 1977. In 2006, on August 21, he suffered with a cardiac arrest and left for the heavenly abode.