The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan:

2. The soft and melodious sounds produced by the shehnai began to be

considered auspicious and hence is played in temples. For many years, he
would practice the instrument at the temple of Balaji, the temple of
Managala Maiya and on the banks of the river Ganga, in Benares, all
alone.
3. When the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, Bismillah
Khan became an often heard shehnai player on radio.
4. When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan
became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his
heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience which included
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
6. In 2001, Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India’s highest civilian
award, Bharat Ratna. That day he said that India’s richest tradition was its
music and prompted the citizens to teach their children music.
7. All his life, Bismillah Khan was attached to the holy river Ganga and to
this hometown. These were the places where he learnt and created music
and practiced the shehnai. The waters of Ganga have inspired him
throughout his life.

8. Ustaad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich, cultural

heritage of India, one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him
can very naturally play the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath
temple. This also shows that Indians show an acceptance of religion and
that there is true brotherhood in the country.