A living legend Ustad Bismillha Khan is a Shehnai maestro. He was bron on March 21, 1936, in a family where his ancestor were court musician in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar. Bismillah Khan was trined by his uncle, the late Ali Bux ‘Vilayatu’.
Ustad Bismillah Khan gave Shehnai its due status among other classical music insruments. He was the first musician to play the first tune for independent India in 1947. On the eve of India’s first Republic Day ceremony, he poured his heart out into the Raga Kafi which he played on his Shehnai.
Bismillah Khan sees only a divin unity between his music and religion. His namaaz is the seven shuddh and five komal sur. Even as a devout Shia Muslim, Ustad Bismillah Khan is a staunch devotee of Goddess Sarawati, the Hindu Goddess of music. Among numeroushonours and aeards he has been bequeathed are Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma shri, the Tansen award and Bharat Ratna.