Bismilla Khan

Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, learnt Shehnai-playing under Ustad Ali Bux who was attached to the Vishwanath temple of Benaras. He has performed his first public concert at the age of 14 at the Allahabad All India Music Conference.

Over a long concert career Ustad Bismillah Khan has been acclaimed as one of the country’s most popular and respected musicians. An instrumentalist of exceptional abilities, he has developed a highly individual style and has elevated the shehnai to its present position in classical music. He has performed in prestigious festivals all over the world including the Festivals of India in France and the Soviet Union.

Ustad Bismillah Khan received the Padma Shri in 1961, the Padma Bhushan in 1968, the Padma Vibhushan in 1980 and the Sangeet Natak Academi Award in 1956. He has been conferred honorary doctorates by the Vishva-Bharati University and the Benaras Hindu University. The Republic of Iran conferred on him the title Talar Mausiqee in 1992. He was elected Fellow of Sangeeth Natak Akademi in 1994.