2016-03-21 Mon

Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar in northern India. His ancestors were court musicians and used to play in Naqqar khana in the princely states of Bhojpur, now in Bihar.

Bismillah Khan was perhaps single-handedly responsible for making the shehnai a famous classical instrument and brought it to the centre stage of Indian music.

Ustad Bismillah Khan had the rare honour of performing at Delhi's Red Fort on the eve of India's Independence in 1947 and he also performed Raga Kafi from the Red Fort on the eve of India's first Republic Day ceremony, on 26 January 1950.

He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, instituted the 'Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar' in 2007, in his honour. It is given to young artists in the field of music, theatre and dance.

On 21st August 2008 a commemorative postage stamp on 'USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN' of INR 05.00 was issued by India Post.