The Sound of Music - Part II

Key Points

 From Pungi to Shehnai:

• The shehnai is not a direct replacement for the pungi, but rather an evolution. The pungi, with its shrill sound, is believed to have inspired the creation of the shehnai.
• A court musician (not necessarily a barber) is credited with refining the pungi's design, resulting in the sweeter-toned shehnai. The name "shehnai" itself suggests its connection to the royal court ("shah" meaning emperor).

Ustad Bismillah Khan: A Maestro's Journey

• Ustad Bismillah Khan, a shehnai maestro, began his musical journey at a young age, around 3 years old.
• He honed his skills in various temples of Varanasi, singing devotional songs ("bhajans") and practicing the shehnai.
• His life embodied simplicity and religious harmony, evident in his practice locations.

Rising Star and Global Recognition:

• Bismillah Khan's breakthrough came with the inauguration of All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, providing him a platform to showcase his talent.
• His iconic performance on August 15, 1947, playing the shehnai at the Red Fort in the presence of Pandit Nehru, further cemented his national significance.

A Legacy of Music and Patriotism:

• Bismillah Khan's career was marked by memorable performances both in India and internationally.
• While his filmography includes "Gunj Uthi Shehnai" and "Sanadhi Aapne", his primary focus remained on traditional music.
• His unwavering devotion to India, particularly Varanasi and the Ganges, led him to decline an offer to head a shehnai school in the USA.

The Bharat Ratna Honor:

• In recognition of his exceptional contribution to Indian music, Ustad Bismillah Khan was rightfully awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 2001.

SHORT QUESHORT QUESTIONS

Q.  What do people call Bismillah fondly?

A. People call him Khansaab.

Q. Where did the young boy practice the musical instrument?

A. The young boy practiced the musical instrument at the banks of the Ganga and the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya.

Q. What did he invent?

A. He invented Ragas that were earlier considered to beyond the range of Shehnai.

Q.  How was pungi came to be named ‘shehnai’ ?

A. A barber of a family of professional musicians decided to improve the pungi . He chose a pipe with a hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi . He played the instrument before the roualty and everyone was impressed. Since it was played by a barber . the instrument came to be named as ‘Shehnai’

Q. How did Bismillah Khan take to music ?

A. Bismillah Khan took to music early in life. When he was three years old, his mother took him to his maternal uncle’s house in Benaras . Bismillah Khan was  fascinated watching his uncle’s practice the shehnai . soon Bismillah began to accompany his uncle to the Vishnu temple of Benaras. Meanwhile , he started getting lessons in shehnai and did a lot of practice. 

ANSWERS OF THE TEXT BOOK

Q. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi ?

A. Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill unpleasant sound.

Q.  How is a shehnai different from a pungi ?

A. A shehnai is a pipe with a natural hollow that is longer and broader than a pungi. It has seven holes on the body of the pipe .

Q.  Where was the shehnai played traditionally ? How did Bismillah Khan change this ?

A. The shehnai was played traditionally in the Vishnu temple of Varanasi . His maternal uncle used to play this instrument. He invented ragas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai .

Q. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break ?

A. Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in  1938

Q. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947 ? Why was the event historic?

A. Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on 15 august 1947 at Red Fort. He was the first India to greet the nation with his musical instrument . He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi to an audience which included Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru .

Q. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. ?

A. He refused to start a shehnai school in the USA because the nation did not have the holy river Ganga. It was not possible to transport the Ganga from India to the USA. That was why whenever he was in a foreign country. He kept yearning to see Hindustan.

Q. Find at least at two instances  in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras.

A. Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras from the bottom of his heart . he says that he misses the holy Ganga and India when he goes abroad. While in Mumbai he thinks of only Banaras and the holy river.