Ustad Bismillah Khan
Art & Culture
Notable Work: Shehnai Maestro, Bharat Ratna
District: buxar
Born: 3/21/1916
Died: 8/21/2006
Biography
A legendary Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai.
Contribution
Born in Dumraon, Bihar, Ustad Bismillah Khan was a virtuoso who elevated the shehnai from a folk instrument to a classical concert stage instrument. He was a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 2001. His music is synonymous with auspicious occasions in India, and he had the rare honor of performing at the Red Fort in Delhi on the eve of India's first Independence Day in 1947.