Those of you, if
still living in the age of darkness and hasn't yet searched anything on Google
today, is justified that you don’t know the importance of the day. Yes, today's
the 102nd birth anniversary of the noted Shennai player Ustad Bishmillah Khan
and Google with its popular Google Doodle style has honoured him.
Known for his melodious
sound of Shennai, that can melt even the stones, it couldn't have been possible
without him that Shennai today has gained a higher rank in Indian classical
music as well as taking it to the Global World Stage.
Bihar has given many
precious stones to the world and undoubtedly Ustad Bishmillah Khan is one of
them most shining. Born in Bhirung Raut ki Gali as Qamaruddin Khan in 1916
belonged from a reputed Muslim Musician family. His ancestors were also the
musician who used to play to Naqqar Khan in the Princely State of Bhojpur now
known as Bihar. His father was also a Shehnai player in the court of
Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate, Bihar.
He
was a legend and great son of India. His prominence in Shennai caused foreign
countries to request for his performance, like in 1966, when the Shennai
Maestro was invited to play in Edinburg festival, but he accepted it with a clause
that he will be first taken to trip to Mecca and Medina with all-expense-paid.
Condition was accepted and he performed.
Believed
to have been started playing in public at the small age of 14, Ustad ji's
performance at the All India Music Conference Music Conference at Kolkata in
1957 became the defining moment in his career. Three decades later, when he performed
at the Edinburgh Music Festival, the shennai acquired a global
audience, and in the minds of millions, became synonymous with its player.
He performed at the Red ford on India's Independence Day and also on the Republic Day Ceremony on January 26 of 1950. Since, then he bacame a part of it and his performance was shown immediately after the Prime Minister's address to the nation.
Ustad ji's experience
has always followed the true vison of society. In one of the interview he
describes how he met Lord Krishna. He says once when travelling from train he
found a cowherd boy who boarded in the same third class bogey as Ustad ji was. He was a dark and
lean boy; and he was holding a flute in his hands. Slowly the boy started
playing his flute .The supreme quality of his music surprised
the maestro Ustad who didn't even know the 'Raga' the boy was playing. Ustad ji believed him to be none other than Sri Krishna , the Supreme
God Himself .The nectarine Nada-Brahman (Brahman in the form of music)
flowing out of Krishna's flute filled Ustad's heart with ecstasy ; and tears of
joy started pouring out of his eyes .
It
was then that he called the boy near him and asked him to play and in return
the maestro would reward him with a coin from. It went on reputing until
Bismiillah Khan's wallet became empty. Young Krishna got down at the next
railway station and disappeared.
Ustad ji, the receiver
of the highest civilian honour , the Bharat Ratan in 2001,
had been earlier been awarded by the Padma Bhushan in 1968,
the Padma
Vibhushan award in 1980,Fellow of SangeetNatak Akademi in 1994 ,SangeetNatak Akademi Award in 1956among many other
uncountable awards.
Devoted
to his art, who would often call his Shennai as his Begum will be the cause of
inspiration and is idol to millions of people in India. He did something that was
so impossible that is giving music its missing part and as he says
“Even
if the world ends, the music will still survive… music has no caste.”
Credits:
*Read
more about the incident at this link.
*Read
what Google has said about Ustad ji's at this link.
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