Bismillah Khan | |
|---|---|
 Ustad Bismillah Khan | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Qamaruddin Khan (1916-03-21)21 March 1916 |
| Died | 21 August 2006(2006-08-21) (aged 90) Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Genres | Indian classical music |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Shehnai |
| Members | Afaq Haider, Savita Anand, Ajitesh Singh |
| Past members | Zamin Husain Khan |
UstadBismillah Khan (bornQamaruddin Khan, 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), often referred to by the titleUstad, was an Indian musician credited with popularizing theshehnai, areededwoodwind instrument. His virtuosity made him a leadingHindustani classical music artist, indelibly linking his name with the woodwind instrument. 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.[1][2]
Khan was a devout Muslim but performed at both Hindu and Muslim ceremonies, and was considered a symbol of religious harmony. Owing to his fame, he was selected to perform for the ceremony at Delhi's historicRed Fort as the Indian flag unfurled at the hour of India's independence on 15 August 1947. His music was played (in Raag Kafi) on television every Independence Day. Khan turned down invitations to perform in other countries before 1966, when the Indian government insisted that he play at the Edinburgh International Festival. This gained him a following in the West, and he continued to appear in Europe and North America thereafter.[3]
In 2001, Bismillah Khan was awarded theBharat 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 afterM. S. Subbalakshmi andRavi Shankar to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.[4][5]
Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 into a family of traditionalMuslim musicians at the big town ofDumraon,India, as the second son of Paigambar Bux Khan and Mitthanbai.[6][5] His father was a court musician employed in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh ofDumraon Raj. His two grandfathers Ustad Salar Hussain Khan and Rasool Bux Khan were also musicians in the Dumraon palace.[6] He was named Qamruddin at birth, to rhyme with his elder brother's name Shamsuddin. Upon seeing the newborn, his grandfather Rasool Baksh Khan, also a shehnai player, is said to have exclaimed "Bismillah", or "In the name of Allah", and thereafter he came to be known by Ustad Bismillah Khan.[1][5]
At the age of three, he moved toVaranasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which at that time was known asBenaras,[2] to be apprenticed to his maternal uncle, Ali Bux 'Vilayatu' Khan, a shehnai player attached to theKashi Vishwanath Temple. At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad music conference. He used to practice with his shehnai on the banks of the river Ganga everyday.[7]
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 orCalcutta. This performance brought Shehnai into the limelight and was hugely appreciated by music lovers. He then went on to play in many countries including Afghanistan, USA, Canada, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, West Africa, Japan, Hong Kong and in various parts of Europe. During his illustrious career he played in many prominent events throughout the world. Some of the events that he played in includeWorld Exposition in Montreal, Cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade Fair.[8]
Bismillah Khan attributed his skill to the blessings ofnath (Shiva), and believed that there was little that he could teach his disciples.[9] 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 isPandit Shailesh Bhagwat, who was declared by Ustaad ji himself as "Second Bismillah[10]". Pandit Bhagwat has studied under Ustad ji's tutelage for 40 years. Some of his other notable disciples are Padmashri awardee PanditS Ballesh Bhajantri,[11] known as Dakshina Bharat Bismillah Khan[12] and his son Krishna Ballesh Bhajantri,[13][14][15][16] and Khan's own sons,Nazim Hussain, Zamin Hussain and Nayyar Hussain.[17]
On 17 March 2006, Bismillah Khan's health deteriorated and he was admitted to theHeritage Hospital,Varanasi for treatment. Khan's last wish – to perform atIndia 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.
The Government of India declared a day ofnational mourning on his death. His body along with a Shehnai was buried at Fatemaan burial ground of old Varanasi under a neem tree with a 21-gun salute from theIndian Army.[18]
Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, instituted theUstad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2006, in his honour. It is given to young artists in the field of music, theatre and dance. TheGovernment 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.[19]
Bismillah Khan was commemorated on his 102nd birth anniversary by Search EngineGoogle which showed a special doodle on its Indian home page for him on 21 March 2018.[20]
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.[21]
Khan had a brief association with films in India. He played the shehnai forRajkumar's role of Appanna in theVijay'sKannada-language filmSanaadi Appanna which became a blockbuster. He acted inJalsaghar bySatyajit Ray and played the shehnai forVijay Bhatt'sGoonj Uthi Shehnai (1959).
Noted directorGoutam Ghose directedSange Meel Se Mulaqat (1989), an Indian documentary film about the life of Khan.
[7]Imtiaz Ali'sRockstar character Ustad Jameel Khan played byShammi Kapoor was slightly inspired by Khan.
Bismillah Khan had honorary doctorates from:
Others include[25]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
