The Sound of Music Part-2

About the Author

Deborah Cowley was born in India, grew up in Toronto, Canada graduated in English from the University of Western Ontario and moved to Ottawa for a job with the Unitarian Service Committee. He is a writer and broadcaster. She has travelled the worldwide & written more than 100 articles for different editions of the Reader's Digest, many of which have been translated into dozens of languages.

Central Idea

This chapter tells the life story of the great musician Bismillah Khan. It also tells us about the origin of the shehnai. He is one of the great personalities of Hindustani music. The author's focus on Bismillah Khan's achievements in the field of classical shehnai music reveals how this great musician's life was devoted to his passion for shehnai. He was a true artist but a simple man and created many new tunes and ragas. He will always be remembered for his contribution to Hindustani Classical Music.

1.0Evolution of Shehnai

This lesson is an effort to understand Indian classical musicians and instruments especially the origin of shehnai and shehnai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan. Shehnai replaced pungi which had an unpleasant sound. Pungi's tonal quality was improved by a nai (barbar) of shah (emperor Aurnangeb); hence it was named as shehnai.

The lesson beautifully deals with the early life of Bismillah Khan in Dumraon in Bihar. His grandfather was a shehnai-nawaz of the Bhojpur king's court. Bismillah Khan took to music early in life when he was 3 years old in the company of his maternal uncle. His life is a source of simplicity and communal harmony from the very beginning when he used to sing 'Chaita' in Bihariji temple and practicing shehnai in Vishnu temple and Mangala Maiya temple of Varanasi.

2.0Devotion for Passion and Achievements

Bismillah Khan got his break in 1938 when he was called in the inauguration of the All India Radio in Lucknow. After that, when India got its independence on 15th August 1947, Ustad Khan was the first Indian invited to play shehnai as the greeting echo for the nation. Over the years, he got many laurels and accolades nationally and globally for his marvellous performances. He also received the highest and prestigious awards, i.e., Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and the Padam Shri. Along with these, he was also the recipient of the highest civilian honor i.e. The Bharat Ratna.

Ustad Bismillah Khan represented our motherland globally. He was the one who performed at the very famous Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA. he also took part in the Cannes Art Festival, the World Exposition in Montreal, and the Osaka Trade Fair. Because of his popularity in Tehran that after his marvellous performance, the Opera House in Tehran was renamed after him as Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan. In spite of having so many opportunities at the global platform, the Maestro could not untie the bond with India and the river Ganga, particularly Benares and his native town Dumraon.

On 21st August 2006, the legendary shehnai player took his last breath after fighting a prolonged illness and left a legacy behind him of beautiful and soulful music.

Recall

• Shehnai replaced pungi which had a shrill unpleasant sound.
• Ustad Bismillah Khan was a Shehnai Maestro.
• He used to sing 'Chaita ' in Bihariji temple and practicing shehnai in Vishnu temple & Mangala Maiya temple of Varanasi.
• He got his break on 15th August, 1947 from Red Fort in presence of Pandit Nehru.
• He also gave music in two movies 'Gunj Uthi shehnai' and 'Samadhi Alanna'.
• He gave many memorable performances both in India and abroad.
• In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.