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The legendary shehani maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan is the third classical musician to be awarded the Bharat Ratna (in 2001), the highest civilian honour in India. The gentle genius of Bismillah Khan is perhaps single handedly responsible for making Shehnai a famous classical instrument. Traditionally used to play music during marriages, Shehnai is the counterpart of south indian nadaswaram. It is also used to play music in temples.
The legend was born on 21 March 1916. His ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar and he was trained under his uncle, the late Ali Bux `Vilayatu, a shehnai player attached to Varanasis Vishwanath Temple. He brought Shehnai to the center stage of indian music with his concert in the calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. There was no looking back. It was Khan Sahib who poured his heart out into Raga Kafi from the Red Fort on the eve of Indias first Republic Day ceremony.
His honorary doctorate from the Banaras Hindu University and Santiniketan bespeaks of his fame. He has been bequeathed with the Sangeet Natak Academi Award, the Tansen Award of the Madhya Pradesh government and also the prestigious Padma Vibhushan.
Bismillah Khan is now one of the most respected musicians and well sought after. Yet his lifestyle has not changed. It retains the old world charm of a Benaras life. His chief mode of transport is still the cycle-rikshaw. A man of tenderness, he believes in remaining private and who believes that musicians are supposed to be heard and not seen.
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