Ustad Bismillah Khan is no more

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Posted: 19 years ago

Ustad Bismillah Khan is no more
By MIO Team
Aug 21, 2006, 09:08

Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away early Monday morning after a cardiac arrest. He was 91 and was admitted to the ICU of Heritage Hospital in Varanasi last week with age-related health problems. Although he was put on the life support system, doctors could not revive him. He is survived by his five sons and three daughters.

He the third classical musician after Pt Ravi Shankar and M S Subbulakshmi to be awarded the Bharath Ratna, the highest civilian honour in the country. During his long and fruitful career as an artiste, Khan enthralled audiences at performances across the globe. He was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, the Tansen award as well as the Padma Vibhushan.

He was born on March 21, 1916 into a family of court musicians and spent his childhood and his life in Varanasi, where his uncle the late Ali Bux 'Vilayatu' was the official shehnai player in the famous Visvanath temple. At an early age, he familiarised himself with various forms of music of UP, including thumri, kajri and sawani. He later studied khayal and mastered a large number of ragas.

The Government today declared a one-day national mourning in view of the death of Bismillah Khan. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condoled the death of Ustad Bismillah Khan and called him the greatest exponent of shehnai. President A P J Abdul Kalam has also condoled the death of the shehnai maestro.

From the team of MIO our deep condolences for the departed soul of the great maestro.