Bismillah Khan Biography: Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar and Orissa province, British India, under the name Qamruddin Khan. He was a classical musician who played the shehnai, a ceremonial instrument resembling a North Indian clarinet, with such expressive ingenuity that he became a prominent figure in Indian classical music. This article provides information about his early life, education, career, honours and honours, and more. Therefore, without further ado, let’s begin.
Bismillah Khan Biography
| Birth name | Qamaruddin Khan |
| Born | 21 March 1916 |
| Birthplace | Dumraon, Shahabad district, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India |
| Died | 21 August 2006 |
| Place of death | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Shehnai |
| Genre | Indian classical music |
Bismillah Khan: Childhood
Bismillah Khan, the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan, was originally named Qamaruddin so that it would sound comparable to his older brother’s name, Shamsuddin. However, when his grandfather, Rasool Baksh Khan, held him as an infant, he uttered the word “Bismillah” and thus became known as Bismillah Khan.
Khan’s ancestors were court musicians for the princely states of Bhojpur, and his father was a Shehnai performer for Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh. Born into a musical household, Bismillah Khan began developing a talent for music during his childhood. Having observed his father play the shehnai as a child, he decided to follow in his footsteps.
Bismillah began his voyage to Varanasi at the age of six, where he was trained by his uncle Ali Baksh, who played the shehnai in temples and many ceremonies for Hindu deities as well as weddings. In order to learn shehnai, he accompanied his relative to ceremonies. As he began to develop a fondness for the shehnai, he practised numerous musical forms and ragas that allowed him to uncover intricate patterns that other musicians deemed impossible.
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Bismillah Khan: Profession
Bismillah Khan began his career by performing in numerous stage productions. In 1937, he received his first significant break when he performed at the All India Music Conference in Calcutta. After this performance, Shenani became a popular instrument and was praised by music enthusiasts. Bismillah’s first exposure was a turning point in his career, as there was no going back after this. He subsequently performed in numerous nations, including the United States, Canada, Bangladesh, West Africa, Japan, Iran, Iraq, and Hong Kong.
The privilege of performing on India’s advent of independence
On the eve of India’s independence in 1947, Bismillah Khan was granted the uncommon honour of playing the shehnai at Red Fort, Delhi. His performance, which was live-broadcast by Doordarshan and viewed as the main attraction of Independence Day festivities, reached thousands of households.
Bismillah Khan: Personal Life and family
Khan is known for his modest way of existence. He travelled to various locations by bicycle and rickshaw and ate plain fare. He treated every member of his joint family with love and respect. Despite having five biological sons, he adopted a daughter.
Death
Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away on August 21, 2006, at the age of 90, after sustaining a cardiac arrest. Under a neem tree, his Shehnai was interred with him in his grave at Fatemain cemetery. The Indian government proclaimed a day of national mourning, and the maestro was given the Indian Army’s signature gun salute.
