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Bismillah Khan (Shahnai Maestro)

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So here I am with my next post. A post with a sketch of Shahnai Maestro ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan’. Initially he was known with the name ‘Qamaruddin’. Later on his Grand father’s will, his name was kept ‘Bismillah’. ‘Bismillah’ and his instrument ‘Shahnai’, both were coupled like moon and moonlight. He only brought this instrument into influence in classical music. For his incredible contribution to Indian classical music he was awarded ‘Bharat Ratna’, a highest civilian honor in India, in 2001. ‘Shahnai’ is an instrument which reflects happiness and sorrow in a very distinct manner, can be identified very easily by anyone. And he was the master of this art. He sometimes used to ask people, what do you want tears in your eyes or a lovely smile on your face and the result also used to be as asked. That effective, his performance used to be always. He concentrated only on ‘Shahnai’ and played for almost 8 decades.

While sketching him I also wanted the same effectiveness in his sketch. You could see his expressions while playing ‘Shahnai’. Hope I could draw my imagination on sheet. He wrote his name in Golden Letters in Hindustani classical music and I wrote his name in my sketch in gold like beautiful shiny language ‘Urdu’, his mother tongue. He passed away in 2006 but he is still living in millions of people all around the world. Though we all have to leave this world one day, an only truth of life but his soul is immortal and can be felt in his music today too. I composed poetry on this life’s phenomena some time ago. Sharing you few lines from the same below:

“ना रहता कोई निशाँ इंसानों का धरा पर, बस रह जाता उनकी यादों का बसेरा है
अन्धकार के नौ माह, प्रकाश में जीवन उतार चढाव के संग, फिर वही अँधेरा है “

I might give an update on my next music album in my next post. Till then goodbye. May God bless you all!

Best Regards to All My Loved Ones,
Atul Ojhal