Bismillah Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ustad
Bismillah Khan
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Khan at a music concert (1964)
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Qamaruddin Khan |
| Born | 21 March 1916 Dumraon, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India |
| Died | 21 August 2006 (aged 90) Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Genres | Indian classical music |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Shehnai |
| Members | Afaq Haider, Savita Anand, Ajitesh Singh |
| Past members | Zamin Husain Khan |
Ustad Bismillah Khan (born Qamaruddin Khan, 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006) was a famous Indian musician. He is known for making the shehnai popular. The shehnai is a special woodwind instrument with a reed. He played it so well that he became a top artist in Hindustani classical music, which is a type of Indian classical music.
Bismillah Khan made the shehnai famous on big concert stages. Before him, it was mostly used in traditional ceremonies. He was a very religious Muslim but performed at both Hindu and Muslim events. This made him a symbol of peace and unity between religions.
His music was so important that he played for India's independence ceremony. This happened on 15 August 1947, when the Indian flag was first raised at the Red Fort in Delhi. His music was played on TV every Independence Day. He started performing in other countries like Europe and North America after 1966.
In 2001, Bismillah Khan received the Bharat Ratna. This is India's highest award for civilians. When he passed away in 2006, India had a national day of mourning. He was one of only three classical musicians to receive this great honor.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Journey
Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916. His birth name was Qamaruddin Khan. He came from a family of traditional musicians in Dumraon, which was part of British India. His father and grandfathers were also musicians.
When he was three years old, he moved to Varanasi. There, he learned music from his uncle, Ali Bux 'Vilayatu' Khan. His uncle was a shehnai player at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Bismillah Khan learned a lot by the Ganges River.
His big chance came in 1937. He played at a concert in Kolkata (then called Calcutta). People loved his performance, and it brought the shehnai into the spotlight. After this, he played in many countries. These included the USA, Japan, and parts of Europe. He performed at big events like the World Exposition in Montreal.
His Beliefs and Teaching
Bismillah Khan believed his amazing skill came from the blessings of Lord Shiva. He felt that he couldn't teach his students much. He thought that sharing his knowledge might only give them a small part of what he knew. Because of this, he didn't have many students. However, some musicians did follow his style and learn from him.
His Final Days
Bismillah Khan's health got worse in March 2006. He was taken to a hospital in Varanasi. He had a wish to perform at India Gate to honor soldiers, but he couldn't.
He passed away on 21 August 2006, at 90 years old. He died from a heart attack. The Indian government announced a day of national mourning. He was buried with his shehnai in Varanasi. The Indian Army gave him a 21-gun salute.
His Lasting Legacy
The Sangeet Natak Akademi in New Delhi created an award in his honor in 2007. It's called the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. This award is given to young artists in music, theater, and dance.
The government of Bihar plans to build a museum and a library in his hometown. They also want to put up a statue of him. In 2018, Google honored him with a special doodle on its homepage. This was for his 102nd birthday.
Even famous Western musicians, like Eric Clapton, were inspired by Bismillah Khan. Clapton said he tried to make his guitar sound like Khan's shehnai.
Awards and Special Honors
Awards
Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award (2001)- Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram (1998)
- T Choudayya National Award (1995)
- Fellow of Sangeet Natak Academy (1994)
- Tahar Mausique from Iran (1992)
Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honor (1980)- Padma Bhushan (1968)
- Padma Shri (1961)
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1956)
- Tansen Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh
- Three medals in All India Music Conference, Calcutta (1937)
Recognitions
Bismillah Khan received honorary doctorates from:
- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
- Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan
Other special recognitions include:
- He was invited by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to play shehnai on India's first Independence Day (15 August 1947) at Delhi's Red Fort.
- He performed at the World Exposition in Montreal.
- He participated in the Cannes Art Festival.
- He also took part in the Osaka Trade Fair.
- India Post released special postage stamps of ₹5.00 in his honor on 21 August 2008.
- Google created a special doodle for his 102nd birthday.
Music Albums
- Albums
- Sanaadi Appanna – He played shehnai for the movie.
- Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) – His shehnai music was featured throughout the movie.
- Maestro's Choice (February 1994)
- Megh Malhar, Vol. 4 (September 1994)
- Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (September 2000)
- Live in London, Vol. 2 (September 2000)
- Immortal Series
- Contributing artist
- The Rough Guide to the Music of India and Pakistan (1996)
See also
In Spanish: Bismillah Khan para niños
