Ustad Bismillah Khan

About This Artist

Ustad Bismillah Khan was the man who brought the shehnai — a double-reeded wind instrument long associated with weddings, temples, and processions — to the classical concert stage. Born in Dumraon, Bihar, and raised in the musical and spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi, he spent his life devoted to his instrument and to the banks of the Ganga. His shehnai playing was at once joyous and deeply spiritual, capable of rendering the most intricate raag elaborations with a human, voice-like quality. He famously played at the Red Fort on the eve of India's independence in 1947, a moment that became symbolic of the nation's birth. He remained rooted in Varanasi his entire life, declining offers to move abroad, saying he could not live away from the Ganga and his beloved city.

Notable Facts

• Played at the Red Fort on the eve of India's independence, August 15, 1947
• Elevated the shehnai from a ceremonial folk instrument to the concert stage
• Received the Bharat Ratna (2001), India's highest civilian honor
• Remained devoted to Varanasi and the Ganga his entire life
• His shehnai renditions of Raag Kafi and Raag Malkauns are considered definitive