Comments on: Ustad Bismillah Khan, R.I.P.

By: kewal kapoor

kewal kapoor — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:25:35 +0000

I cried the day Ustad Bismillah khan saheb died. I was lucky to meet him and see him with his group when I was a student at Doaba College Jullundhur City Panjab back in 1960 at Devi Talab which is famous for having Hariballabh Mela every year. Khan Sheb came to perform at that function. I remember Ashwani Kumar used to be IG of Police of Punjab at that time. He recorded all his performances on a tape recorder and I managed to sit infront of khan saheb. He was the real ” JEWEL OF INDIA” ( Bharat Ratna”.) The only other time I cried was when NAUSHAD, Music Director died as well. Both of them were “Great Sons of INDIA”.

By: Jatin

Jatin — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 10:06:45 +0000

I was lucky enough to see him play live, when he was invited to my high school as a guest and performed. I didn’t realize at the time that how much of a living legend this man was and how lucky i was to have seen him play live only a couple of feet away from me.

By: tarana

tarana — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:02:05 +0000

My grandfather introduced me to Ustad Bismillah Khan’s music. I remember thinking of the Shehnai as “wedding music” until I actually heard the Ustad play. I regret that I never saw him perform.

By: DJ Drrrty Poonjabi

DJ Drrrty Poonjabi — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:44:11 +0000

Thanks for the illuminating post; I regret that I only learnt about him and his musical legacy after his death.

By: mr. cicatrix

mr. cicatrix — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 19:39:28 +0000

so it wasn’t just my ipod acting up that bismillah-ji’s pieces kept coming up, one after another, while it was on shuffle yesterday. amazing. Khan-saheb WAS shehnai… no one else even came close in accomplishment on the instrument.

By: Floridian

Floridian — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 01:49:52 +0000

"Will it be possible for Indian classical music (and dance) to survive in the future?"

It has for centuries. What's another 100 years going to do? And it is wrong to assume that the participants of classical art forms are disappearing. Classical arts have always been attracted a niche audience, even in the olden days.

By: P.G. Wodehouse

P.G. Wodehouse — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:37:53 +0000

what's sad is that a man of his stature and contribution to indian culture had to appeal to the government for aid.

He supported something like 100 relatives for a long time. In the end he had very little money for himself, and had to make this appeal.

By: Amitabh

Amitabh — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:34:28 +0000

Will it be possible for Indian classical music (and dance) to survive in the future? My understanding is, in order to excel at these particular arts, you need to devote your life to them, starting in childhood. It’s a whole culture and mentality, not just notes on an instrument. Considering that no one will allow their kids’ mainstream academic education to lag behind or be neglected, and that future practitioners will have to fit this stuff in as extra-curricular activity, will anyone be able to achieve the levels of mastery that people like Ustad Bismillah Khan did?

By: althottha

althottha — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:32:30 +0000

I read the headlines of Ustad Bismillah Khan’s passing this morning on BBC, and was immediately struck by the loss of a living musical legacy. Thanks Amardeep for the Youtube link, I had been listening to Charlie Parker’s flourishing bebop lines all morning (something I do while working), and to contrast that immediately with the Hindustani virtuoso was truly exhilirating. May his legacy live on.

By: brown_fob

brown_fob — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:11:14 +0000

I once met Ustad Bismillah Khan after a SPICMACY concert. He was a very humble person..a true gem.