Ustad Bismillah Khan Passes away

A sad news..

Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away in Varanasi according to NDTV news.He was 91

.

omggggggggg
noooooooo


i prayed for him just a few days ago, after i found out he was in the hospital and on liquid diet

thanks for letting us know

The legendary shehani maestro, a man of tenderness, a man who believes in remaining private and who believes that musicians are supposed to be heard and not seen. The legend was born on 21 March 1916. His ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar and he was trained under his uncle, the late Ali Bux 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player attached to Varanasi's Vishwanath Temple. It was Khan Sahib who poured his heart out into Raga Kafi from Red Fort on the eve of India's first Republic Day ceremony.
Where others see conflict and contradiction between his music and his religion, Bismillah Khan sees only a divine unity. Music, sur, namaaz is the same thing. His namaaz is the seven shuddh and five komal surs. Even as a devout Shia, Khan Sahib is also a staunch devotee of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of music.

His honorary doctorate from the Benares Hindu University and Shantiniketan bespeaks of his fame. He has been bequeathed with the Sangeet Natak Academi Award, the Tansen Award of the Madhya Pradesh government and also the prestigious Padma Vibhushan.

He has played in Afghanistan, Europe, Iran, Iraq, Canada, West Africa, USA, USSR, Japan, Hong Kong and almost every capital city across the world. His music is an ocean and he feels that he has barely reached the shore after 81 years of his life and his search is still incomplete.

Music Today Titles by Bismillah Khan:

Maestro's Choice --1 (A91001)
Basant Bahar Volume 1 (A91021) with Kishori Amonkar
Megh Malhar – Volume 4 (A91025) with Kishori Amonkar
Romantic Raga – Volume 2 (A94010) with Ronu Majumdar, Nishat Khan, N Rajam. Buddhaditya Mukherjee, Bhajan Sopori
Raga from Music Today (A96005)

Bharath Rathna Ustad Bismillah Khan (b. 1917)


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Ustad Bismillah Khan is the third classical musician after Pt Ravi Shankar and Smt M S Subbulakshmi to be awarded Bharath Rathna, the highest civilian honour in India.

The gentle genius of Bismillah Khan is perhaps single handedly responsible for making Shehnai a famous classical instrument. Traditionally used to play music during marriages, Shehnai is the counterpart of south indian nadaswaram. It is also used to play music in temples.

Born in a small Bihar village in 1917, Ustad Bismillah learned shehnai from his uncle who used to play in the famous Vishwanath temple of Varanasi. He brought Shehnai to the center stage of indian music with his concert in the calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. There was no looking back.

Bismillah Khan is now one of the most respected musicians and well sought after. Yet his lifestyle has not changed. It retains the old world charm of a Benaras life ... his chief mode of transport is still the cycle-rikshaw !

I'm still reminded of the great music he played for Kannada film Sanadhi Appanna, where RajKumar played the role of the gentle genius of a Shehnai player.

but this article says he is improving 😕



Bismillah Khan's health improving

Varanasi, Aug 20. (PTI): The condition of ailing Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan improved further today and his vital parameters like pulse, respiration rate and blood pressure were normal, doctors attending on him said.

A three-member medical team, which examined him at the Intensive Care Unit of Heritage Hospital here expressed satisfaction with his progress, hospital superintendent P S R Ayer said.

The 91-year-old appeared happy and sang a couple of songs for the attending doctors, he said.

Doctors D K Sinha, A K Pandey and Shamsher conducted a CT scan of his stomach and brain and found no anomalies, Ayer added.

The Bharat Ratna awardee was given solid food after he expressed a desire to eat home-cooked 'halwa' and is expected to regain his health soon.

President A P J Abdul Kalam, in a faxed message, expressed concern over the ill-health of the nonagenarian and wished him speedy recovery.

Human Resource Develpment Minister Arjun Singh and BHU vice chancellor Panjab Singh visited hospital and enquired after Khan's health.

The Minister discussed about Khan's desire to perform at the India Gate, to which the artiste said it was his last wish and would be fulfilled if God willed so.

Senior BSP leader and MP S C Mishra has also wished him a full and speedy recovery.

link:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200608202010.htm

Originally posted by: RonnieK

but this article says he is improving 😕



Bismillah Khan's health improving

Varanasi, Aug 20. (PTI): The condition of ailing Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan improved further today and his vital parameters like pulse, respiration rate and blood pressure were normal, doctors attending on him said.

A three-member medical team, which examined him at the Intensive Care Unit of Heritage Hospital here expressed satisfaction with his progress, hospital superintendent P S R Ayer said.

The 91-year-old appeared happy and sang a couple of songs for the attending doctors, he said.

Doctors D K Sinha, A K Pandey and Shamsher conducted a CT scan of his stomach and brain and found no anomalies, Ayer added.

The Bharat Ratna awardee was given solid food after he expressed a desire to eat home-cooked 'halwa' and is expected to regain his health soon.

President A P J Abdul Kalam, in a faxed message, expressed concern over the ill-health of the nonagenarian and wished him speedy recovery.

Human Resource Develpment Minister Arjun Singh and BHU vice chancellor Panjab Singh visited hospital and enquired after Khan's health.

The Minister discussed about Khan's desire to perform at the India Gate, to which the artiste said it was his last wish and would be fulfilled if God willed so.

Senior BSP leader and MP S C Mishra has also wished him a full and speedy recovery.

link:
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200608202010.htm

There was a breaking news at NDTV that he passed away.

This is one the saddest news I have heard in the recent times. Its a great loss to the nation and all music lovers around the world!

Still can't get myself to believe it! I am shocked!

Its a great loss for India and our music 😭 .

May his soul rest in peace.

Originally posted by: Sur_Sangam

There was a breaking news at NDTV that he passed away.

ahhhhh man
just when everyone thought he was improving he passed away

thanks for clarifying

I am very sad to read this. Great loss to the nation and for music lovers, but he will always be with us in the form of his contribution to music.

Bhagwann unki aatma ko shanti de va unke parivaar walon ko is dukhad ghatna ko sehan karne ka sahas pradaan kare.