Bismillah Khan

Name of Birth	Qamaruddin Khan
Date of Birth	March 21st, 1916
Origin	Indian
Died	August 21, 2006 (aged 90)
Genres	Classical Music of India
Occupations	Musician
Musical Instruments	Shehani

Ustad Bismillah Khan cannot be compared with any other great Indian as he is treated as a precious gem of the country. This person not only got the award of Bharat Ratna but also had won many other civilian awards such as Padma Visbhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and of course Bharat Ratna. This great personality was born in the state of Bihar at the place known as Dumraon on 21st March in the year 1916. He was born as a second son of her parents known as Mitthan and Paigambar Khan. Musical background was in advance when he was born as his family was musicians in Bhojpur States.

Biography

Bhirung Raut Ki Gali is the name of that particular place where this great personality has been born in the state of Bihar at Dumraon. His birth name was Qamaruddin Khan but later on his name was changed and he became Ustad Bismillah Khan. He was the second son of her parents who were named as Mitthan and Paigambar Khan. He was born in the family of musicians, as his ancestors such as grandfather and others were played a great role in the Bhojpur states which is a part of Bihar State now. His father was also a very good player of Shehnai at the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh in the place of Dumraon. Change of name was done by his grandfather known as Rasool Baksh Khan. He was shifted to Varanasi when he was only six years of his age. Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’ had provided Bismillah a formal training from him who played shehnai in the Temple of Vishwanath in Varanasi.

In the year 2006 in the month of August dated: 17th is the day when he was admitted in the hospital of Varanasi for the treatment but he was died just after 4 days when he was admitted i.e. on 21st August, 2006 although the reason provided by doctors is Cardiac Arrest. He had five sons along with 3 daughters and also having a long list of great-grandchildren and grandchildren. National Holiday was declared by Government of India when Ustaad Bismillah Khan was died. He was buried at Fatemain Burial Ground along with the shehnai and Indian Army has provided twenty one gun salutes in his honor.

Career

Ali Baksh ‘Vilayatu’ is the name of the trainer who had trained Ustad Bismillah Khan who was a uncle and also play shehnai in the temple of Vishwanath in Varanasi. His uncle was a great player of shehnai which puts this instrument in the Conference of All India Music in the city of Kolkatta in the year 1937. After sometime Ustad and Shehnai was considered as a two faces of same coin by people. Ustad travelled in all major capital cities of the world and played music with his shehnai.

He does not accept students but when he practiced with Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji who was the current master in the religion of Namdhari Sikhs. From here he has chosen Baljit Singh Namdhari who was young boy who played tarshenai. This boy was his 1st student in the year 1985 after that in the year 1999, Ustad has two more students known as Kirpal Singh and Gurbaksh Singh who also played tarshenai.

In the year 2007 new award was introduced which known as ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ in the capital of the country by Sangeet Natak Academy.

Contribution to Music

This great personality will always be remembered in the history of Indian Music as he is considered as a person who introduced and provided a proper place of musical instrument known as shehnai which then became very popular musical instrument in Indian Classical Music. He was treated as unbeatable and perfect synonym for Shehani.

Association with Movies

He also worked in some movies. He had played shehnai in the film of Kannada language known as ‘Sanaadi Appanna’ and had performed act in the film of Satyajit Ray known as ‘Jasaghar’. In the year 1959 music was provided to yet another famous film known as ‘Goonj Uthi Shehani. However, 2006 was the last year when he had recorded the song known as ‘Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera’ in the film known as ‘Swades’.

Awards

Had got best Performer award in All India Music Conference, Allahabad in the year 1930

Three medals were got by him in All India Music Conference, Calcutta in the year 1937

Had got Tansen Award by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh

Had got Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardin the year 1956

Padma Shri Award was given in 1961

Padma Bhushan Award was given in 1968

Honoured with Padma Vibhushan Award in 1980

Talar Mausiquee as given by Republic of Iran in 1992

Had got fellowship of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1994

Honoured with Bharat Ratna Award in 2001

Had got honorary doctorate from Banaras Hindu University of Varanasi

Had also got honorary doctorate from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan

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