Pucture biography on maestro bishmillah khan
Answers
- Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 at Bhirung Raut Ki Gali, in Dumraon as the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan.
- He was named as Qamaruddin to rhyme with Shamsuddin, their first son.
- His grandfather, Rasool Baksh Khan uttered “Bismillah” (the basmala) after looking at the newborn, thus he was named Bismillah Khan.
- His ancestors were court musicians and used to play in Naqqar khana in the princely states of Bhojpur, now in Bihar state.
- His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate, now in Bihar.
Explanation:
Fast Facts
Date of Birth: 21 March, 1916
Place of Birth: Dumraon, Buxar, Bihar
Birth Name: Qamaruddin Khan
Date of Death: 21 August, 2006
Place of Death: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Profession: Musician
Children: Zamin Hussain, Nazim Hussain, Nayyar Hussain, Kazim Hussain, Mehtab Hussain, Soma Ghosh (adopted daughter)
Father: Paigambar Baksh Khan
Mother: Mitthan
Awards: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri
Without Bismillah Khan, we wouldn’t have realized the true potential of a humble wind instrument known as Shehnai. Such was his impact in popularizing Shehnai, a subcontinental instrument belonging to the oboe class. What was regarded as a mere folk instrument went on to be recognized as a classical instrument. What more, it not only attracted Asian music lovers but also made millions of Westerners recognize and appreciate the potential of Shehnai, all thanks to Bismillah Khan. He had fallen in love with his musical instrument, so much so that he would often refer to it as his wife! Well, falling in love with something is one thing, but making millions of others fall in love with it is something else. That is exactly what the legendary musician managed to accomplish during his reign as the world’s most loved Shehnai player.