Page 4 - LN2
P. 4

Character sketch ( can refer to any one of the character sketch)


               (Detailed )


               Bismillah Khan in the “The Sound of Music” (Part –II), Bismillah Khan has been
               potrayed as a great musician, a devout patriot, and a liberal human being.
               Bismillah Khan has been one of the most eminent musicians of India who
               honoured rich cultural heritage of Indian music. Born and brought up in the family
               of musicians, he learnt a lot from his paternal and maternal families. He further
               enriched the shehnai music by his improvised ragas which he harmonized with
               the waves of the Ganga. His passion for music started at the early age of three
               and continued up to his death at ninty.


               Starting with playing music in temples and on the banks of the Ganga, Bismillah
               Khan rose to fame with international conferences and concerts. Such was his
               fame that he was invited to play shehnai at the red fort on the occasion of the
               independence of India on August 15, 1947. Many awards like the Padmashri, the
               Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan were conferred on him. He has also
               been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, the greatest civilian award in India. He
               played shehnai in Afghanistan before King Zahir Shah; was invited to perform at
               Lincoln Central Hal, USA; participated in the World Exposition in Montreal, in the
               cannes Art Festival and Osaka Trade Fair. Such is his international fame that in
               Tehran, an auditorium has been named after him.


               Bismillah Khan was a great patriot who declined the offers of his students to
               settle down in the USA. He had a profound love for the GAnga in Benaras and
               his birthplace, the estate of Dumraon, Bihar. He had such high regard for the rich
               heritage of India, that he was not allured by the glamour of the film world.
               Bismillah Khan was liberal human being who had respect for all religions. Though
               a devout Muslim, he played shehnai every day in the Kashi Vishwanath temple,
               Benaras. Thus, a great musician and a great human being, Bismillah Khan
               earned international repute for himself.


               ( Brief )


               Ustad  Bismillah Khan was agreat Shehnai player. His contribution to Shehnai
               will always be remembered. From his very childhood, he was a great learner. He
               watched his uncleAliBux at Benaras and learnt the lessons of Shehnai from him.
               He watched his maternal uncle Ali Bux at Benaras and learnt the lessons of
               Shehnai from him. As he was dedicated to Shehnai, he practiced for hours on the
               peaceful bank of Ganga in Benaras. He developed different varieties of
               Hindustani ragas and became popular. He was unable to forget the Ganga,
               Benaras and the Mattha of Dumraon. He had visited several countries but never
               tried to settle there. He got the opportunity to celebrate the independence of India
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