Bismillah Khan - A Lifestory

The name Bismillah Khan brings to mind the beautiful sounds of the shehnai, an instrument he made famous. Born in 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, he was a shehnai expert. This is a woodwind instrument with two reeds. He started learning the shehnai very young, taught by his father, Paigambar Khan. His skill grew quickly. His shows were amazing, charming people everywhere. He played at India's Independence Day in 1947, a big moment in the country's history. His music became a symbol of India's freedom. He added a lot to Indian classical music; he didn't just play the shehnai, he made it come alive. His music was in many Bollywood movies, like the famous "MughaleAzam" (1960), making him even more wellknown. Khan Sahib, as people fondly called him, won many awards. He got the Padma Shri in 1961, the Padma Bhushan in 1968, and the Padma Vibhushan in 1980. He also received the Bharat Ratna in 2001, India's top civilian award. His talent reached far and wide; he even played at the World's Fair in New York in 1964. Other musicians and critics praised him. Ravi Shankar, another great Indian classical musician, said his music was a gift from God, a pure expression of the heart. His work still inspires many musicians. He died in 2006, leaving a rich musical legacy.