‘Where will you bring my Ganga from’, when Bismillah Khan got the offer to settle in America – Hindustan News Hub – hindustannewshub.com

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Ustad Bismillah Khan

New Delhi: The occasion was India’s independence and the place was Delhi’s historic Red Fort. On 15 August 1947, India got independence from British rule after 200 years of slavery. On this historic occasion, a personality was also invited who made India’s independence even more memorable by playing the Shehnai at the Red Fort. We are talking about Ustad Bismillah Khan, who played the Shehnai from the ramparts of Delhi’s Red Fort on the eve of India’s independence in 1947. Not only this, he also enthralled the audience with his Shehnai on the occasion of the country’s first Republic Day. It was Ustad Bismillah Khan who introduced India to the melodious tune of his Shehnai not only in the country but also on international platforms. It was the skill of Ustad Bismillah Khan that kept the Shehnai alive in India.

I was in love with Banaras

Ustad Bismillah Khan loved Banaras a lot. In an interview on Doordarshan, he had said, “If someone wants to become a melodious person, he should come to Banaras and sit on the banks of Gangaji, because the name of Banaras has “Ras” in it.” Bismillah Khan had said, “Whether it is Kashi Vishwanath Temple or Balaji Temple or Ganga Ghat, there is a different kind of peace in playing Shehnai here.”

Juhi Sinha’s book “Bismillah Khan – Ustad of Banaras” introduces us to the family and love for music of Bismillah Khan, one of India’s greatest artists. This book describes Bismillah Khan’s journey from a small town like Dumraon to Banaras and then to the world.

Promoted Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb

When Bismillah Khan was only 6 years old, he came to Varanasi to learn Shehnai from his maternal uncle Ali Baksh. His Ustad uncle used to play Shehnai in Kashi Vishwanath temple. It was here that he made Shehnai his first love. He used to practice Shehnai for six hours every day. He played Shehnai for the first time in the All India Music Conference in 1937. The series that started from here continued further and he played such a tune of Shehnai all over the world that the listeners were mesmerized.

Bismillah Khan also promoted Ganga-Jamuni culture. He used to go to Baba Vishwanath temple and play the Shehnai. He also used to sit on the banks of the Ganga and practice for hours. Whatever the festival, it was incomplete without Khan Sahab’s Shehnai. For him, music was his religion.

Got an offer to settle in America

He played Shehnai in countries like USA, Canada, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, West Africa. According to media reports, he was also offered to settle in America. But he could not leave India. He would even get upset at the thought of leaving Banaras. Bismillah Khan rejected this offer saying, ‘Where will you bring my Ganga from in America?’

Honoured with all four highest civilian awards of India

Ustad Bismillah Khan has been awarded all four of India’s highest civilian honours. He was awarded the Padma Shri (1961), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma Vibhushan (1980) and the Bharat Ratna in 2001.

It is said that Ustad Bismillah Khan wanted to pay tribute to the martyrs by playing the Shehnai at India Gate. However, his last wish could never be fulfilled. On 21 August 2006, at the age of 90, the great Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan said goodbye to the world. (With IANS inputs)

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