The Hindu : National : He performed from Red Fort on first Republic Day

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Tuesday, Aug 22, 2006

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He performed from Red Fort on first Republic Day

People of Varanasi often said one could take the shenai legend out of Varanasi but never Varanasi out of him.

— Photo: PTI

LAST JOURNEY: Mortal remains of Shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan being taken for last rites in Varanasi on Monday.

NEW DELHI/ VARANASI: Born on March 21, 1916 in a family whose ancestors served as court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar, Bismillah Khan trained under his uncle Ali Bux, a shehnai player attached to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

The shehnai maestro is survived by five sons, Mehtab Hussain being the eldest one (71), and three daughters.

The maestro came into limelight when he performed "Raga Kafi" from the Red Fort on the country's first Republic Day celebration. Thereupon, the plaintive strains of his shehnai used to mark the Republic Day for generations of Indians.

Bismillah Khan had one last dream — to perform at India Gate. Sadly, that wish remains unfulfilled.

People of Varanasi often said that one could take the shenai legend out of Varanasi but never Varanasi out of him.

And the scene at the Benia Bagh ground, where his body was kept, reflected the people's emotions.

Weeping men, women and children of all religions and age came by to say goodbye to the shehnai wizard who embraced this city all his life and carried its tales and memories everywhere he went.

"Bismillah Hotel"

The demise of Bismillah Khan not only symbolises the departure of yet another representative of a golden era of Indian classical music but also marks the closure of "Bismillah Hotel" for destitutes.

The youngest son-in-law, Abul Hassan, pointing out that Khan Sahib was the lone breadwinner for a family of 66, describes him as "Bismillah Hotel," which not only provided succour to his family, but also to the impoverished lot and destitutes, who came to him for food.

"Bismillah Hotel is closed forever,'' said Mr. Abul Hassan with tears running down his cheeks.

``Apart from providing succour to his family, comprising five sons and three daughters and their offspring, his house in Harha Sarai was often flocked by the impoverished for food, leading to Khan Sahib being termed Bismillah Hotel,'' the husband of the youngest daughter Kamiz Fatima said.

Mr Abul also hoped the legacy of Khan Sahib will be best furthered by his three sons — Naiyar Hussain (68), Zamin Hussain (58), both shehnai players, and youngest son Nazim, a tabla player.

Renowned sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik on Monday created a sand image of Bismillah Khan on the Puri beach in Orissa. "It was painful to hear that Ustad Bismillah Khan is no more,' the international sand artist said.

Bismillah Khan had a long association with Andhra Pradesh, particularly Hyderabad, a city fond of Hindustani music. Even a Telugu film was made, based entirely on the Ustad's rendition.

"Sannayi Appanna' was based on the life of a poor shehnai player, very much reflecting the life of the maestro himself. Bismillah Khan rendered shehnai pieces for the movie. — Agencies

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