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{{Short description|Indian musician (1916–2006)}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}{{use Indian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix = [[Ustad]]
| name = Bismillah Khan
| honorific_suffix = [[Bharat Ratna]]
| image = Bismillah Khan.jpg
| caption = Ustad Bismillah Khan
| birth_name = Qamaruddin Khan
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1916|3|21}}
| birth_place = [[Dumraon]], [[Bihar]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2006|8|21|1916|3|21}}
| death_place = [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], India
| instrument = [[Shehnai]]
| genre = [[Hindustani classical music|Indian classical music]]
| occupation = Musician
| current_members = Afaq Haider, Savita Anand, Ajitesh Singh
| past_members = Zamin Husain Khan
}}

[[Ustad]] '''Bismillah Khan''' (born '''Qamaruddin Khan''', 21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), often referred to by the title ''Ustad'', was an Indian musician credited with popularizing the [[shehnai]], a [[Reed (mouthpiece)|reeded]] [[woodwind instrument]]. His virtuosity made him a leading [[Hindustani classical music]] artist, indelibly linking his name with the woodwind instrument. While the shehnai had importance as a folk instrument played primarily by musicians schooled in traditional ceremonies, Khan elevated its status and brought it to the concert stage.<ref name="Independent" /><ref name=b>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5270968.stm|title=Indian music's soulful maestro|work=[[BBC News]]|date=21 August 2006|access-date=11 October 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117092851/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5270968.stm|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>

Khan was a devout Muslim but performed at both Hindu and Muslim ceremonies, and was considered a symbol of religious harmony. Owing to his fame, he was selected to perform for the ceremony at Delhi's historic [[Red Fort]] as the Indian flag unfurled at the hour of India's independence on 15 August 1947. His music was played (''in Raag Kafi'') on television every Independence Day. Khan turned down invitations to perform in other countries before 1966, when the Indian government insisted that he play at the Edinburgh International Festival. This gained him a following in the West, and he continued to appear in Europe and North America thereafter.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bismillah-Khan |title= Bismillah-Khan |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref>

In 2001, Bismillah Khan was awarded the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honour, and the country observed a national day of mourning following his death in 2006. He became the third classical musician of India after [[M. S. Subbalakshmi]] and [[Ravi Shankar]] to be awarded the Bharat Ratna.<ref>{{cite news|title=Remembering Ustad Bismillah Khan |url=https://newsd.in/remembering-ustad-bismillah-khan-on-his-105th-birth-anniversary-lesser-known-facts-about-the-shehnai-maestro/ |work=Newsd |date=20 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="ITC"/>

==Personal life==
Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 into a family of traditional [[Muslim]] musicians at the big town of [[Dumraon]], [[India]], as the second son of Paigambar Bux Khan and Mitthanbai.<ref name="The Guardian">{{cite news|last1=Massey|first1=Reginald|title=Bismillah Khan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/aug/22/guardianobituaries.india|access-date=29 May 2016|work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 August 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618080516/http://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/aug/22/guardianobituaries.india|archive-date=18 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="ITC">{{cite web|title=Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away |url=http://www.itcsra.org/sra_news_views/obituary/bismillah_khan.html |website=ITC Sangeet Research Academy |access-date=29 May 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807160255/http://www.itcsra.org/sra_news_views/obituary/bismillah_khan.html |archive-date=7 August 2016}}</ref> His father was a court musician employed in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of [[Dumraon Raj]]. His two grandfathers Ustad Salar Hussain Khan and Rasool Bux Khan were also musicians in the Dumraon palace.<ref name="The Guardian" /> He was named Qamruddin at birth, to rhyme with his elder brother's name Shamsuddin. Upon seeing the newborn, his grandfather Rasool Baksh
Khan, also a shehnai player, is said to have exclaimed "Bismillah", or "In the name of Allah", and thereafter he came to be known by Ustad Bismillah Khan.<ref name="Independent">{{cite news |last=Hunt |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Hunt (music journalist) |date=22 August 2006 |title=Virtuoso musician who introduced the shehnai to a global audience|work=[[The Independent]]|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bismillah-khan-412865.html |url-status=live |access-date=8 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219221300/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/bismillah-khan-412865.html|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="ITC" />

At the age of three, he moved to [[Varanasi]] in the state of Uttar Pradesh, which at that time was known as [[Benaras]],<ref name=b/> to be apprenticed to his maternal uncle, Ali Bux 'Vilayatu' Khan, a shehnai player attached to the [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]]. At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad music conference. He used to practice with his shehnai on the banks of the river Ganga everyday.<ref name="rupa">''Bismillah Khan: The Shehnai Maestro'' by Neeraja Poddar, [[Rupa & Co.]], New Delhi, 2004.</ref>

Bismillah Khan began his career by playing at various stage shows. He got his first major break in 1937, when he played at a concert at All India Music Conference in Kolkata or [[Kolkata|Calcutta]]. This performance brought Shehnai into the limelight and was hugely appreciated by music lovers. He then went on to play in many countries including Afghanistan, USA, Canada, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, West Africa, Japan, Hong Kong and in various parts of Europe. During his illustrious career he played in many prominent events throughout the world. Some of the events that he played in include [[Expo 67|World Exposition]] in Montreal, Cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade Fair.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hossen|first1=Iftakhair|title=Bismillah Khan The Sitar Maestro |url=https://www.observerbd.com/news.php?id=189361#|work=The Daily Observer|date=21 March 2019}}</ref>

==Students==
Bismillah Khan attributed his skill to the blessings of [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple|nath]] ([[Shiva]]), and believed that there was little that he could teach his disciples.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/a-dying-fall-4519457/|title=A Dying Fall: Is the shehnai on its way out?|date=12 February 2017|work=The Indian Express|access-date=5 March 2018|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305202732/http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/a-dying-fall-4519457/|archive-date=5 March 2018}}</ref> Khan seldom accepted students. He thought that if he would be able to share his knowledge it wouldn't be useful as it would only give his students a little knowledge. One of his senior most disciple is Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat, who was declared by Ustaad ji himself as "Second Bismillah<ref name=":0" />". Pandit Bhagwat has studied under Ustad ji's tutelage for 40 years. Some of his other notable disciples are Padmashri awardee Pandit [[S Ballesh Bhajantri]],<ref>{{cite news|work=[[ Deccan Herald]] |author=[[Press Trust of India| PTI]]|title=S Ballesh Bhajantri, one of Khan’s earliest disciples-The 2022 Padma Shri awardee has played the shehnai|url= https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bismillah-khans-birth-anniversary-at-its-peak-in-the-hands-of-the-ustad-shehnai-seeks-lost-glory-3456425#google_vignette|access-date=2025-05-26}}</ref> known as Dakshina Bharat Bismillah Khan<ref>{{cite news |author=Lalithaa Krishnan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/clear-and-sparkling/article6079.ece |title=Clear and sparkling |newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 August 2009 |access-date=11 October 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192232/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/clear-and-sparkling/article6079.ece |archive-date=2 January 2014}}</ref> and his son Krishna Ballesh Bhajantri,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sawai Gandharva Society|title=Events Archive Artist by name Surmani Krishna Ballesh|url=http://sawaigandharvabhimsenmahotsav.com/surmani-krishna-ballesh|work=[[Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival]]|publisher=sawaigandharvabhimsenmahotsav.com|date=7 December 2016|access-date=11 June 2019|archive-date=23 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223182142/http://sawaigandharvabhimsenmahotsav.com/surmani-krishna-ballesh|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/pune-sawai-mahotsav-kicks-off-with-tribute-to-ustad-bismillah-khan/ |title=Pune: Sawai Mahotsav kicks off with tribute to Ustad Bismillah Khan, The session saw performance by Shehnai Chakravarty Pt S Ballesh and his son Surmani Pt Krishnan Ballesh|work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=8 December 2016 |access-date=14 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tansenacademy.com/drkrishna-ballesh|title=our-guru-Surmani Dr. KRISHNA BALLESH, He is one of the disciples of World Renowned Shehnai Maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. He was with ustad ji for 7 years |date=23 May 2019|work=www.tansenacademy.com|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/nov/21/an-evening-to-honour-legends-of-hindustani-tunes-1707304.html/ |title=An evening to honour legends of Hindustani tunes- says Surmani Krishna Ballesh, co-founder, Tansen Academy of Hindustani Music. |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=21 November 2016 |access-date=14 February 2020}}</ref> and Khan's own sons, [[Nazim Hussain]], Zamin Hussain and Nayyar Hussain.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ustads-son-chosen-to-carry-on-his-legacy/articleshow/1920948.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111161533/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-08-23/india/27823956_1_shehnai-nayyar-bismillah-khan|url-status=live|archive-date=11 January 2014|title=Ustad's son chosen to carry on his legacy|date=23 August 2006|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=11 January 2014}}</ref>

==Death==
On 17 March 2006, Bismillah Khan's health deteriorated and he was admitted to the [[Heritage Hospital]], [[Varanasi]] for treatment. Khan's last wish – to perform at [[India Gate]], could not be fulfilled. He wanted to pay tributes to the martyrs.
He waited in vain till his last rites. He died of cardiac arrest on 21 August 2006, at the age of 90.

The Government of India declared a day of [[national mourning]] on his death. His body along with a Shehnai was buried at Fatemaan burial ground of old Varanasi under a neem tree with a 21-gun salute from the [[Indian Army]].<ref>{{cite news |title = India mourns legendary musician | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/5272134.stm | work = BBC News| date = 21 August 2006 | access-date = 11 October 2020|url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061004184615/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5272134.stm |archive-date = 4 October 2006 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

== Legacy==
[[File:Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan calls on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on September 30, 2004.jpg|thumb|Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan calls on the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on 30 September 2004]]
[[File:Bismillah Khan 2008 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Khan on a 2008 stamp of India]]
[[File:Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Marg.jpg|thumb|Street in Hyderabad, Telangana, named after Bismallah Khan which was inaugurated by Pandit [[Hariprasad Chaurasia]] and [[K Viswanath]] on 7 April 2013.]]
[[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], New Delhi, instituted the ''[[Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar]]'' in 2006, in his honour. It is given to young artists in the field of music, theatre and dance. The [[Government of Bihar]] has proposed setting up of a museum, a town hall-cum-library and installation of a life-size statue at his birthplace in Dumraon.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ustad Bismillah Khan's Birthplace in Bihar faces wrath of negligence|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ustad-bismillah-khans-birthplace-in-bihar-faces-wrath-of-negligence/|work=IANS|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=15 April 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416062630/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/ustad-bismillah-khans-birthplace-in-bihar-faces-wrath-of-negligence/|archive-date=16 April 2014}}</ref>

Bismillah Khan was commemorated on his 102nd birth anniversary by Search Engine [[Google]] which showed a special doodle on its Indian home page for him on 21 March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/google-doodle-celebrates-shehnai-maestro-ustad-bismillah-khan-on-birth-anniversary-5105320/|title=Ustad Bismillah Khan feted in Google Doodle celebrating shehnai maestro's birth anniversary|date=21 March 2018|work=Indianexpress.com|access-date=21 March 2018|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321130613/http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/google-doodle-celebrates-shehnai-maestro-ustad-bismillah-khan-on-birth-anniversary-5105320/|archive-date=21 March 2018}}</ref>

In the documentary film, ''Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars'', [[Eric Clapton|Clapton]] cites Bismillah Khan as an influence and how he tried to use his guitar to imitate the music of Khan's woodwind instrument.<ref>Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars</ref>

==In popular culture==
Khan had a brief association with films in India. He played the shehnai for [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]]'s role of Appanna in the [[Vijay (director)|Vijay]]'s [[Kannada]]-language film ''[[Sanaadi Appanna]]'' which became a blockbuster. He acted in ''[[Jalsaghar]]'' by [[Satyajit Ray]] and played the shehnai for [[Vijay Bhatt]]'s ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959).

Noted director [[Goutam Ghose]] directed ''[[Sange Meel Se Mulaqat]]'' (1989), an Indian documentary film about the life of Khan.

<ref name="rupa" />Imtiaz Ali's [[Rockstar (2011 film)|Rockstar]] character Ustad Jameel Khan played by [[Shammi Kapoor]] was slightly inspired by Khan.

==Awards and recognitions==

===Awards===
*[[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian award. (2001)<ref name="ITC" />
*[[Swathi Sangeetha Puraskaram]] (1998), [[Government of Kerala]]<ref name="Bismillah Khan">{{cite news|last=hindu.com|title=National Events in \==\=\==1998|url=http://hindu.com/thehindu/revents/01/19980199.htm|access-date=17 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=4 December 1998|archive-date=29 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129102354/http://hindu.com/thehindu/revents/01/19980199.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
*T Choudayya National Award (1995), [[Government of Karnataka]]<ref>{{Cite web|title= List of recipients of 'T Chaudaiah National Awards'- =\\==
|url=https://www.karnataka.gov.in/page/Awards/State+Awards/T+Choudayya+National+Awards/en|access-date=2021-03-28}}</ref>
*Fellowship of [[Sangeet Natak Academy|Sangeet Natak Akademi]] (1994)<ref name="ITC"/>
*Tahar Mausique from the Republic of Iran (1992)
* [[Padma Vibhushan]], India's second highest civilian honor (1980)<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=11 October 2020|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="ITC"/>
*[[Padma Bhushan]] (1968)<ref name="Padma Awards" /><ref name="ITC"/>
*[[Padma Shri]] (1961)<ref name="Padma Awards" />
*[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (1956)<ref name="ITC"/>
*Tansen Award by Govt. of [[Madhya Pradesh]].[[Sehore]]
*Three medals in All India Music Conference, [[Calcutta]] (1937)<ref name="ITC"/>

===Recognitions===
Bismillah Khan had honorary doctorates from:
*[[Banaras Hindu University]], [[Varanasi]]<ref name="ITC"/>
*[[Visva-Bharati University]], [[Santiniketan|Shantiniketan]]<ref name="ITC"/>

Others include<ref name=REDIFFUBK2>{{cite web|title=Standard IX Textbook – Step to English, Chapter 13: Shehnai Maestro Bismillah Khan |publisher=National Council for Education Research and Training |url=http://www.ncert.nic.in/textbooks/IX/step_to_eng_TextBook/Chapter%2013.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927074354/http://www.ncert.nic.in/textbooks/IX/step_to_eng_TextBook/Chapter%2013.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2006 |access-date=11 October 2020|url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Was invited by then [[Prime Minister of India]] Pandit [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] to play [[shehnai]] on the first [[Independence Day (India)|Independence Day (15 August 1947)]] in [[Delhi|Delhi's]] [[Red Fort]].
* Participated in [[Expo 67|World Exposition]] in Montreal
* Participated in [[Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Art Festival]]
* Participated in [[Osaka]] Trade Fair
* India Post issued commemorative postage stamps of ₹5.00 denomination on 21 August 2008
* On the 102nd anniversary of his day of birth, Google honoured Bismillah Khan with a [[Google Doodle|Google doodle]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/google-doodle-celebrates-renowned-shehnai-player-ustad-bismillah-khan-on-his-102th-birthday-4398935.html|title=Google Doodle celebrates renowned shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan on his 102th birthday|work=Firstpost|access-date=7 April 2018|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407190210/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/google-doodle-celebrates-renowned-shehnai-player-ustad-bismillah-khan-on-his-102th-birthday-4398935.html|archive-date=7 April 2018}}</ref>

==Selective discography==
;Albums
* ''[[Sanaadi Appanna]]'' – Played shehnai for [[Dr. Rajkumar|Rajkumar]]'s role in the movie.
* ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959) – shehnai recitals throughout the movie for [[Rajendra Kumar]]'s role.
* ''Maestro's Choice'' (February 1994)
* ''Megh Malhar, Vol. 4'' (the other piece in the album is by [[Kishori Amonkar]]) (September 1994)
* ''Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall'' (September 2000)
* ''Live in London, Vol. 2'' (September 2000)
*''Immortal Series''

;Contributing artist
* ''[[The Rough Guide to the Music of India and Pakistan]]'' (1996, [[World Music Network]])

==References==
* Life history of [http://www.varanasi.org.in/bismillah-khan Bismillah Khan], the Legend of [http://www.varanasi.org.in Varanasi]
* ''[[Sange Meel Se Mulaqat|Meeting a Milestone: Ustad Bismillah Khan]]''. A documentary by [[Goutam Ghose]], 1989<ref name=":0">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5HHWzb2Z8o |title=Ustad Bismillah Khan ATTENDED Pt. Shailesh Bhagwat's Shehnai Concert |date=2010-03-16 |last=Shehnai |type=Video |access-date=2025-06-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==Biographies==
* ''Bismillah Khan: the shehnai maestro'', by Neeraja Poddar. Rupa & Co., 2018. {{ISBN|81-291-0351-6}}.
* ''Monograph on Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan'', by Amar Jyoti, Shivnath Jha, Alok Jain, Anjali Sinha. Pub. Neena Jha & Shivnath Jha, 2019. {{ISBN|9788175256408}}.
* ''Bismillah Khan and Banaras: the seat of shehnai'', by [[Rita Ganguly]]. Siddhi Books, 1994.
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2NENRiXN8UgC&q=bismillah+khan Shahnai Vadak Ustad Bismillah Khan]'', by Murli Manohar Shrivguguiastava. Prabhat Prakashan, 2009. {{ISBN|9788173157356}}.
* ''Bismillah Khan: The Maestro from Benaras'', by Juhi Sinha. Niyogi Books, 2011. {{ISBN|978-81-89738-91-4}}.
* ''Naubatkhane Mein Ibadat'', by Yatindra Mishra. Chapter in [[NCERT]]'s [[Hindi]] textbook for [[All India Secondary School Examination|10th Standard]].
* In the [[NCERT]] English Textbook for 9th Grade he is credited largely in the chapter "The Sound Of Music".

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bismillah Khan}}
{{Wikiquote|Bismillah Khan}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0451190|name=Ustad Bismillah Khan}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120211160242/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-08-21/india/27808852_1_half-mast-ustad-bismillah-khan-state-funeral National mourning for Ustad Bismillah Khan]. [[Times of india|Times of India]]..
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140102194104/http://www.indianstage.in/EventDetails.do?eventId=5566#.UtJ13NncbN0 Event]. indianstage.in.
* [https://elinepa.org/homage-to-ustad-bismillah-khan/ Homage to Ustad Bismillah Khan]. elinepa.org.

{{Bharat Ratna}}
{{Padma Vibhushan Awards}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69}}
{{SangeetNatakAkademiFellowship}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khan, Bismillah}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Buxar district]]
[[Category:Shehnai players]]
[[Category:Hindustani instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Bihar]]
[[Category:Musicians from Varanasi]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:Indian people of Pashtun descent]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]

Bismillah Khan - Revision history

Veronasie at 09:40, 20 February 2026