THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN

About the story:

The chapter 'The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan' is like a short biography of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan that features the discovery of shehnai, his childhood in Benaras and on the bank of Ganga, his love and dedication for music, his popularity in India and overseas and the accolades he earned during his lifetime.

Summary in stages:

The Discovery and the popularity of Shehnai:

Due to its shrilling sound, Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi in the royal court. In order to revive the instrument, a barber from a family of musicians, modified this instrument into a new instrument that was smooth and distant sounding. As this instrument was invented by a nai (barber) and was first played in Shah's court, it was called as Shehnai.

The sound of the shehnai is considered auspicious that is why it is always played in temples and weddings. It was part of the naubat i.e. the traditional ensemble of the nine musical instruments at a royal court.

Bismillah Khan's Childhood and his growing passion for music:

Bismilla, born on 21 March 1916, was from a family of musicians. His grandfather Rasool Bux Khan was the shehnai nawaz of the Bhojpur King's court. His father and paternal ancestors were the shehnai players.

The three-year-old Bismillah would go to his uncles' place to Benaras and would accompany his uncle Ali Bux who used to play the shehnai in Vishnu temple. Bismillah got lessons from him and practice throughout the day while sitting at the temple of Balaji, Mangala Maya and on the banks of Ganga. The flowing water of Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent ragas that were earlier considered beyond the shehnai's range.

The 5-year-old Bismilla would go to Bihariji temple to sing 'Chaita' and would earn a 1.25 kg laddoo from the local Maharaja.

Bismillah Khan's Popularity:

·         on 15th August 1947, he became the first person to greet the nation with his shehnai by playing Raag Kaafi for the audience including Pandit Nehru.

·         King Zahir Shah of Afganistan was so taken away by Bismillah's shehnai that he gifted him priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs.

·         He was the first Indian to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA, and he also participated in World Exposition in Montreal, Cannes Arts Festival and Osaka Trade Fair.

·         An auditorium in Tehran is named after him 'Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan'.

His career as Movie Music Director:

·         Movie director Vijay Bhatt was fascinated too much with Bismillah Khan's shehnai that he named his film as 'Gunj Uthi Shehnai' and Bismillah composed the song 'Dilka Khilona hai toot gaya' for this film.

·         Vikram Srinivas's Kannada movie 'Sanadhi Apanna' was also composed by Bismillah Khan. He didn't work much in the movie the industry as 'he couldn't come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the industry'.

Awards and Recognition:

·         Padmashree

·         Padma Bhushan

·         Padma Vibhushan

·         Bharat Ratna (Year 2001)

His advice to Indian Parents:

"Teach your children music, this is Hindustan's richest tradition; even the west is now coming to learn Hindustani music".

His refusal to start a music school in the USA:

One of his students wanted him to start a shehnai school in The USA and also promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras temples as he knew Bismillah ji's emotional connection with the place. But Bismillah ji refused by saying that a replica of Benaras could be created but not of the Ganga river.