Bismillah Khan

Ustad Bismillah Khan (born Qamaruddin Khan, 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), often referred to by the title Ustad, was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai, a reeded woodwind instrument. His virtuosity made him a leading Hindustani classical music artist. While the shehnai had importance as a folk instrument played primarily by musicians schooled in traditional ceremonies, Khan elevated its status and brought it to the concert stage.

In 2001, Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, and the country observed a national day of mourning following his death in 2006. He became the third classical musician of India after M. S. Subbalakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Bismillah Khan began his career by playing at various stage shows. He got his first major break in 1937, when he played at a concert at All India Music Conference in Kolkata or Calcutta.

Teaching Bismillah Khan attributed his skill to the blessings of nath (Shiva), and believed that there was little that he could teach his disciples. Khan seldom accepted students. He thought that if he would be able to share his knowledge it wouldn't be useful as it would only give his students a little knowledge. One of his senior most disciple is Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat, who was declared by Ustaad ji himself as "Second Bismillah". known as Dakshina Bharat Bismillah Khan and his son Krishna Ballesh Bhajantri, and Khan's own sons, Nazim Hussain, Zamin Hussain and Nayyar Hussain.

Death On 17 March 2006, Bismillah Khan's health deteriorated and he was admitted to the Heritage Hospital, Varanasi for treatment. Khan's last wish – to perform at India Gate, could not be fulfilled. He wanted to pay tributes to the martyrs. He waited in vain till his last rites. He died of cardiac arrest on 21 August 2006, at the age of 90.

Legacy Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan calls on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on 30 September 2004

Street in Hyderabad, Telangana, named after Bismallah Khan which was inaugurated by Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and K Viswanath on 7 April 2013. Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, instituted the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2006, in his honour. It is given to young artists in the field of music, theatre and dance. The Government of Bihar has proposed setting up of a museum, a town hall-cum-library and installation of a life-size statue at his birthplace in Dumraon.

Bismillah Khan was commemorated on his 102nd birth anniversary by Search Engine Google which showed a special doodle Google Doodle on its Indian home page for him on 21 March 2018.

In the documentary film, Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, Clapton cites Bismillah Khan as an influence and how he tried to use his guitar to imitate the music of Khan's woodwind instrument.

In popular culture Khan had a brief association with films in India. He played the shehnai for Rajkumar's role of Appanna in the Vijay's Kannada-language film Sanaadi Appanna which became a blockbuster. He acted in Jalsaghar by Satyajit Ray and played the shehnai for Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959). T Choudayya National Award (1995), Government of Karnataka Fellowship of Sangeet Natak Akademi (1994) Was invited by then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to play shehnai on the first Independence Day (15 August 1947) in Delhi's Red Fort. Participated in World Exposition in Montreal Participated in Cannes Art Festival Participated in Osaka Trade Fair India Post issued commemorative postage stamps of ₹5.00 denomination on 21 August 2008 On the 102nd anniversary of his day of birth, Google honoured Bismillah Khan with a Google doodle.

Selective discography Albums Sanaadi Appanna – Played shehnai for Rajkumar's role in the movie. Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) – shehnai recitals throughout the movie for Rajendra Kumar's role. Maestro's Choice (February 1994) Megh Malhar, Vol. 4 (the other piece in the album is by Kishori Amonkar) (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, World Music Network)