Bismillah Khan: The Shehnai Resonates

In spite of growing up in a musical and music loving family, I have to say that for a long time I couldn’t stand two instruments – the violin and the shehnai. I would hear the shrieking sounds and wish someone would give me a permanent earplug at every wedding and western music concert I went to.

Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menhuin’s collaborative cd East Meets West made me feel a lot more benevolent towards the violin, but the Shehnai still didn’t do it for me – until I heard Ustad Bismillah Khan’s Bhairavi on it.

The cd that was surreptitiously handed to me under the guise of “it has Amjad Ali Khan sahib playing on it and melodies by some other favorites of yours,” made me take it. Along with the other artists was this one piece by Ustad Bismillah Khan on Shehnai.

I put the cd on and thought of skipping the shehnai segment, got distracted with something and before I knew it, the sound of melody emanating from the lips of a man who raised Shehnai to a different dimension had me rooted to the spot.

Since then Shehnai has meant only one thing for me – Bismillah Khan.

When the 91 year old legendary Shenai maestro passed away last month, I felt as if the soul of Shehnai has left. His charm, the love he seemed to evoke in those who knew him, his simplicity, the fact that he supported more than 60-70 members of his family, single-handedly till the day he died moved me deeply. Of course stories of his generosity would constantly make their way to me on the music circuit when I went to cover concerts.

The week after he passed away I sat and poured through all the tributes that were paid to him. What emerged was the story of a man who remained simple and rustic till the end, struggled to support a large family by himself and made his music his religion

Coming from a family of Shehnai players who performed at the Royal Courts, in Bihar. Bismillah Khan was noticed for his good looks and charm and his incredible prowess on the instrument that is closest to an oboe in the West. There were stories of his wit. On one instance a Hindu musician said disdainfully, “The problem with Islam is that it has downgraded music.” Bismillah Khan retorted impishly: “Sir, as you know, most of the best classical musicians of north India are Muslims. Can you imagine what would have happened if Islam had upgraded music?”

In a conversation I had with Sarod maestro Rajeev Taranath, who had never met Bismillah Khan but was introduced to his music at a very young age of seven by his father, the ustad’s music seemed as sweet as lollipop at that age.” My father made me a conscious listener of Ustad Bismillah Khan. His melody was pure-shehnai lacked the lower register, but the thing that came first to my mind was his sweet melody. He was representing a very substantial tradition of indo-gangetic Hindi speaking plains which went into his rendition of classical music. He brought in lot of raga music that normally people might resist because of the astringent element any raga treatment has- by compensating with his folk sweetness.”

Rajiv Taranath’s Tribute to Bismillah Khan:

For 70 years Bismillah Khan and his Shehnai became a symbol of Hindu Muslim unity. The devout Shia Muslim who said the namaz five times and would only eat what was halal, also was a worshipper of Saraswati and lived in the holy city of Varanasi all his life. His home was called Bismillah Hotel because it was open to every destitute who came to seek help.

August 15 1947 was a red letter day when India gained its independence. That moment was also immortalized by Bismillah Khan beckoning a new dawn through his Shehnai. He was among the few Indians who had the distinction of receiving all the top national awards – Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Bharat Ratna.

I spoke to several music maestros who shared their thoughts on and memories of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar said, “ I’m very sad that he has passed away. I will miss him very much. I knew him since the early 1930s when he had come to Maihar where I was studying music from my guru Baba Allauddin Khan. Bismillah Khan had come to perform at the wedding of the Mahraja’s daughter. Shehnai was always considered an instrument that was played at weddings and other auspicious occasions. That is how I met him and after that we performed at various festivals, though not together.”

Ravi Shankar says the late Ustad was very handsome, had a great sense of humor and tremendous charm. “I arranged a concert for him to play at the Hollywood Bowl in 1968 and he was a great success. Many other musicians like Ali Akbar Khan and George Harrison were also there. I finally had the opportunity to perform with him at a short concert for NRIs in Delhi about 3 years ago. We stayed at the Delhi center for a couple of days, ate together and had a lot of fun.”

Ravi Shankar says that it was Ustad Bismillah Khan who was instrumental in bringing Shehnai on to the classical platform. “Shehnai was never played at concerts and the Shehnai players were always put on the first or second floor at weddings. They never got to play with other classical musicians. Bismillah Khan changed all that and others followed. Shehnai is a reed instrument with a very loud blow. In the olden days Shehnai players performed 20 feet away from the microphone because it had such a loud sound. It was Bismillah Khan who gave it the precision and the perfect sound production to be able to play it before the mike.”

The sitar maestro adds that it was his folk melodies mingling with classical renditions that made his music so universally appealing. “That was his greatest success. He was often accused of playing to the masses, but a performer has to be an entertainer as well as keep the sanctity of the music. This compromise in a proper way is a fantastic thing.”

Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Tribute to Bismillah Khan:

 

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle says Bismillah Khan brought the sweet rasa and melodies that make Banaras so unique, flow into his Shehnai. “Shehnai is a very difficult instrument to play and he was the sole maestro who played it with such ease till the end of his life. His knowledge of classical music was phenomenal. He is synonymous with all that is good and auspicious. There was no wedding, no function, no marriage and no auspicious event where you didn’t hear the notes of his Shehnai casting their spell. As a human being he was a very clean hearted and pure soul. Though he was a Muslim by birth, I know that he truly was a man of all religions. I feel deeply saddened by his passing away, but I know his name will always be remembered in the world forever.”

Asha Bhosle’s Tribute to Bismillah Khan:

For sitar and surbahar maestro Ustad Imrat Khan who along with older brother Ustad Vilayat Khan, spent a lot of time with Ustad Bismillah Khan, his passing away has been hard. Imrat Khan broke down several times as he recalled his days with the charming Shehnai samrat.” Since the day I learnt to appreciate music, I have known of Bismillah Khan. He began his career at 12 or 14, and went on to enthrall music lovers for over 70 years. There has not been a wedding that I have attended where Bismillah Khan or his recording was not being played. His music in the film Goonj Uthi Shehnai was greatly appreciated.” Imrat Khan says the late maestro’s biggest quality was the fact that in spite of being a classical musician his music became universally acceptable and loved by everyone, be it the cigarette or tea vendors or true masters of musical knowledge. His approach to a raga, and its melody was so pleasing and so natural that when he was playing it was as if his breath became the melody emanating through the Shehnai.

“He was childlike and very saintly. Even though he was older than my brother Vilayat Khan, he accorded me so much love and an equal stage presence whenever I played a duet with him, “ says Imrat Khan choking back tears.” No matter who you were he met you with the same humility, his eyes brimming with love, his beautiful smile welcoming you. There was always fun and humor in all his conversations.”

As a musician he was unparalleled says Imrat Khan. “Shehnai is a very difficult instrument. Unless you blow into it with precision, the sound can become distorted. Bismillah Khan could play extensive concerts well into his late 70s and early eighties and each note was finely tuned to amazing precision. He was also one of the most loved people both amongst the masses and fellow musicians. His generosity of heart and his goodness touched everyone.”

Imrat Khan remembers performing in a series of annual Dusshera festivals that were hosted by the common masses by collecting money to pay the musicians.” We would play at every half a mile all across Patna and it was an interesting sight to see thousands of people and their cattle hanging around hearing us perform. It was wonderful. Bismillah Khan allowed me to express myself so beautifully on stage and always encouraged and blessed me.”

Imrat Khan’s Tribute to Bismillah Khan:

 

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan says his special memories of Bismillah Khan go back to the times when he was a young child. “Bismillah Khan would tell me fascinating stories about the times my father played Sarod as a young man. As a human being he was very simple and saintly and very pious. As a musician he was full of vibrancy and color.”

Khan Sahib also says that the best thing about Bismillah Khan was that his music was never boring. “He had a great sense of ethics and proportion and he knew when to stop. His vision and concept of music was so beautiful because of the folk influences he brought in. Both he and his music were accepted by all religions all over the world. I had the opportunity to play with him for the first time 30 years ago in Patna, Bihar. We rehearsed all day but in the evening heavy rains and winds blew away all the tents and the concert was canceled. I finally had the opportunity to play with him 30 years later. That performance was captured by music India in a cd and DVD, called Ru Baru.”

Towards the end of his life the Ustad was still supporting his family of 60-70 members single handedly and constantly asking the Government for financial help.

When asked to comment on it Ravi Shankar said he finds it hard to say this but the fact remains that it is simply not fair for a man to support such a huge family single-handedly.” It is not as if Bismillah Khan didn’t make money. He was also helped more than any other individual both by the Indian Government as well as wealthy private individuals who loved his music and yet it was never enough. How can it be when you are supporting so many people?”

Imrat Khan says as a result of always traveling with an entourage Bismillah Khan never stayed in expensive hotels and ate at small dhabas, so that everyone could be accommodated. ‘ He would even travel abroad with a group and lovingly distribute all his earnings amongst everyone. I remember once a reporter went to see him and Ustad Bismillah Khan was sitting in his home his body drenched with sweat, trying to cool himself with a fan. The reporter asked him why couldn’t he get at least a table fan or a ceiling fan for himself. The maestro replied,” but how can I enjoy the fan when no one else in my neighborhood or my family can afford to have it in each room.”

Amjad Ali Khan remembers going to visit him at his rundown home.”Nothing had changed. He insisted I have lunch with him and we sat on the floor and ate the traditional way. But then taking care of all these people, enduring the hardships was the way he had chosen for himself.”

Amjad Ali Khan’s Tribute to Bismillah Khan:

 

All three said they felt deeply saddened by Ustad Bismillah Khan’s death. “I will really miss him. He was a dear friend and a very good human being,’ says Ravi Shankar. Amjad Ali Khan says it will be hard not seeing him at all the numerous festivals they played in every year. “I know that all of us will miss him, his beautiful smile. I feel very happy that the Indian government gave him so much honor and declared a National Mourning Day. This has never happened before for any musician.”

Imrat Khan says that perhaps the thing that has moved him deeply was the love that he saw pouring from the hearts of millions of people both at his funeral and in the journey leading to his burial. ”Every musician I know has felt the loss personally. It is easy to make a name for yourself, and today everyone you see is a so called star, but a man who can inspire not just respect for his genius but deep love in the heart of his fellow beings across the world as Ustad Bismillah Khan has done, is rare.”