Ustad Bismillah Khan 102nd birth anniversary: Here are some interesting facts about the maestro musician whom Google doodle paid tribute
Today, on 21st March, Google celebrate 102nd birth anniversay of Bharat Ratna and Shehnai maestro Late Ustad Bismillah Khan. The Google Doodle for the day is dedicated to Ustad Bismillah Khan. Google illustrates him playing his shehnai, created by a Chennai-based illustrator Vijay Krish.
Important facts about Maestro Musician Late Ustad Bismillah Khan:
-The master musician was born to a family of court musicians who used to play in Naqqar Khana , in the small town of Dumarao in Bihar.
-The musician was named 'Bismillah' by his grandfather, when the news reached to him. The 'Bismillah' is the Arabic word for 'in the name of God'.
-The Ustad Bismillah had won many prestigious awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri among many other awards. The musician was not only popular just in Asia but he was very popular across the world.
- At the age of six, he moved to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where he received his formal training under his uncle, Ali Bux 'Vilayatu'. When Ustad Bismillah began his music career by playing in public at the age of 14.
-The Ustad's the All India Music Conference performance at Kolkata in the year 1937 is known to have been a career defining moment for the him. After he performed at the Edinburgh Music Festival in 1966, his music got very popular worldwide.
-Ustad Bismillah's father was a popular shehnai player who had performed in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate, Bihar.
-Ustad Bismillah was famously quoted saying, "Even if the world ends, the music will still survive... music has no caste."
Also read: Harjit Masih: The man among the 40 Indian workers and claimed ISIS 'killed all 39 men' in Iraq
First published: 21 March 2018, 11:43 IST