The Sound of Music – Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
Author: Deborah Cowley
Summary (English)
"The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan" tells the inspiring story of Ustad Bismillah Khan, one of India's greatest musicians. He played the shehnai, a traditional Indian musical instrument, and helped bring it from royal courts and temples to the world stage.
Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, into a family of musicians. His ancestors were professional shehnai players in the royal court of Bhojpur. He received his musical training from his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, who was a shehnai player at the Vishnu Temple in Varanasi.
Bismillah Khan practised for hours on the banks of the Ganga and developed exceptional mastery over the instrument. His fame spread throughout India and abroad. He became the first Indian to greet the nation with the sound of the shehnai from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947.
He received many prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Despite his international fame, he remained deeply attached to India's culture, traditions and the city of Varanasi.
The chapter highlights his dedication, simplicity and contribution to Indian classical music.
সাৰাংশ (Assamese)
"বিস্মিল্লাহ খাঁনৰ শেহনাই" পাঠটো ভাৰতৰ বিখ্যাত শেহনাইবাদক উস্তাদ বিস্মিল্লাহ খাঁনৰ জীৱন আৰু সংগীত যাত্ৰাৰ ওপৰত আধাৰিত। তেওঁ শেহনাইক ৰাজদৰবাৰ আৰু মন্দিৰৰ সীমাৰ পৰা বিশ্ব মঞ্চলৈ লৈ গৈছিল।
বিস্মিল্লাহ খাঁনৰ জন্ম ১৯১৬ চনৰ ২১ মাৰ্চত বিহাৰৰ ডুমৰাওঁত হৈছিল। তেওঁ সংগীতজ্ঞ পৰিয়ালত জন্মগ্ৰহণ কৰিছিল। তেওঁৰ মাতুল আলি বক্সে তেওঁক শেহনাই বজোৱা শিকাইছিল। আলি বক্স বাৰাণসীৰ বিষ্ণু মন্দিৰৰ শেহনাইবাদক আছিল।
বিস্মিল্লাহ খাঁনে গংগা নদীৰ পাৰত ঘণ্টাৰ পিছত ঘণ্টা অনুশীলন কৰিছিল। কঠোৰ পৰিশ্ৰম আৰু একাগ্ৰতাই তেওঁক বিশ্ববিখ্যাত সংগীতজ্ঞ হিচাপে প্ৰতিষ্ঠিত কৰিছিল।
১৯৪৭ চনৰ ১৫ আগষ্টত স্বাধীন ভাৰতৰ প্ৰথম প্ৰভাতত দিল্লীৰ লালকিল্লাৰ পৰা শেহনাই বজাই তেওঁ সমগ্ৰ দেশক মুগ্ধ কৰিছিল। তেওঁ ভাৰত ৰত্নকে ধৰি বহু সন্মান লাভ কৰিছিল।
তেওঁৰ জীৱনে সংগীতৰ প্ৰতি নিষ্ঠা, দেশপ্ৰেম আৰু সৰল জীৱনধাৰাৰ উদাহৰণ দাঙি ধৰে।
Textbook Questions and Answers
I. Tick the right answer.
1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker’.
Answer: Pungi
2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
Answer: A barber
3. Bismillah Khan's paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).
Answer: Professional musicians
4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Rasool Bux).
Answer: Ali Bux
5. Bismillah Khan's first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
Answer: Afghanistan
II. Answer these questions in 30–40 words.
1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Answer: Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because he considered its sound unpleasant and harsh. It was regarded as a noisy instrument that lacked musical sweetness.
2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
Answer: The shehnai is a modified and improved form of the pungi. It produces a sweeter and more melodious sound. It was developed by a barber who made changes to the pungi's structure.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Answer: Traditionally, the shehnai was played in temples and at royal courts. Bismillah Khan brought it to the concert stage and made it an internationally recognized classical instrument.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Answer: Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 when he started performing on All India Radio, Lucknow. His performances gained popularity and brought him national recognition.
5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
Answer: He played the shehnai from the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947. The event was historic because it marked India's Independence Day.
6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to settle abroad?
Answer: Bismillah Khan deeply loved India, the Ganga, and the city of Varanasi. Because of his attachment to his homeland and culture, he refused to settle abroad.
III. Answer these questions in about 100 words.
1. How did Bismillah Khan become India's most famous shehnai player?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was born into a family of musicians and received training from his maternal uncle Ali Bux. He practised diligently for several hours every day on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi.
His dedication and exceptional talent enabled him to master the shehnai. Through performances on All India Radio, national events and international stages, he popularized the instrument across the world.
His historic performance from the Red Fort on India's Independence Day further increased his fame. He received many awards, including the Bharat Ratna, and became the most celebrated shehnai player in India.
2. What values of Bismillah Khan's personality impressed you the most?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan's simplicity, dedication and patriotism are highly inspiring. Despite achieving worldwide fame, he remained humble and deeply connected to Indian culture.
He devoted his life to music and practised with complete sincerity. His love for Varanasi and the river Ganga showed his attachment to his roots.
These qualities make him a role model for young musicians and students.
Thinking About Language
II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan's feelings about the items listed below.
| Item | Word/Phrase from the Text | Feeling |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching children music | "Hindustan's richest tradition" | Positive ✓ |
| The film world | "I just can't come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world." | Negative ✓ |
| Migrating to the U.S.A. | "God forbid! Me, leave Benaras? Never!" | Negative ✓ |
| Playing at temples | Played every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple | Positive ✓ |
| Getting the Bharat Ratna | "Eyes glinting with rare happiness" | Positive ✓ |
| The banks of the Ganga | "The holy Ganga" | Positive ✓ |
| Leaving Benaras and Dumraon | "Whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan." | Negative ✓ |
Thinking About Language
I. Complete the following sentences.
1. The school sports team hopes to win the championship.
2. We all want to succeed in life.
3. They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother to send her to a school for the deaf and fit her with hearing aids.
4. The authorities permitted us to enter the hall.
5. A musician decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi.
II. Find the words and phrases from the text.
| Definition | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The home of royal people | Royal residence / Royal palace |
| 2. The state of being alone | Solitude |
| 3. A part which is absolutely necessary | Indispensable component |
| 4. To do something not done before | Invent |
| 5. Without much effort | Effortlessly |
| 6. Quickly and in large quantities | Thick and fast |
III. Tick the Right Answer
1. When something is revived, it
✅ lives again
2. When a government bans something, it wants it
✅ stopped
3. When something is considered auspicious, we
✅ welcome it
4. When we take to something, we find it
✅ interesting
5. When you appreciate something, you
✅ find it good and useful
6. When you replicate something, you do it
✅ for the second time
7. When we come to terms with something, it is
✅ no longer upsetting
Exam Tip
Important vocabulary from this chapter: revived, auspicious, indispensable, solitude, replicate, appreciate, effortlessly, residence, invent, thick and fast. These words are frequently asked in MCQs, fill in the blanks and vocabulary-based questions.
Dictionary Work
Use the dictionary to find out which adjective can be used before a noun, after a verb, or both.
| Adjective | Only Before Noun | Only After Verb | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indispensable | ✓ | ||
| Impressed | ✓ | ||
| Afraid | ✓ | ||
| Outdoor | ✓ | ||
| Paternal | ✓ | ||
| Countless | ✓ | ||
| Priceless | ✓ |
Use These Words in Sentences
Indispensable: Water is indispensable for life.
Impressed: I was impressed by her performance.
Afraid: The child was afraid of the dark.
Outdoor: We enjoyed many outdoor activities.
Paternal: He received paternal advice from his father.
Countless: Countless people attended the festival.
Priceless: This ancient manuscript is priceless.
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