Varanasi prays for ‘Shehnai’ maestro Bismillah Khan’s wellbeing
(No Ratings Yet)The town of Varanasi has forgotten its religious divide and is praying for the early recovery of ‘Shehnai’ maestro Bismillah Khan.
Baddrudin Ahmed, a local, said: “We prayed to God that he helps the pride of Varanasi regain health as early as possible and come back to entertain us. We can only pray for him and that we are doing.”
Nonagenarian Khan has been admitted to a local hospital here and is said to be in stable condition, though weak.
Earlier this week, an Indian Medical Association team visited the music maestro’s home and proclaimed him fit for his age.
Khan, who started his music career in 1930, earned recognition nationally as well as internationally purely on the strength of his talent. He has played Shehnai in all the five continents and won international acclaim for his performances.
Bismillah Khan’s ancestors were court musicians in the princely state of Dumraon in Bihar and he was trained under his uncle.
Khan has been conferred with innumerable awards, including the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He has the distinction of performing from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, 1947, when India became independent.
Khan had also performed before the country’s lawmakers in 2003.
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