The Sound of Music (Part 2) (9th)

The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Question Answers

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

He banned it because of its shrill sound.

2.      How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

A pungi is made of a reed. But a shehnai is a pipe with a natural hollow. It is longer and broader than the pungi. It has seven holes on  its body. It makes a soft and melodious sound. But the pungi makes a shrill sound.

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

Traditionally, the shehnai was played in courts. It used to be a part of the naubat. Bismillah Khan gave the shehnai a spiritual status. He played it in temples and on auspicious occasions.

4.      When and how did Bismillah Khan get his ‘big break’?

In 1938, the All India Radio was opened in Lucknow. It came as a big break for Bismillah Khan. His shehnai was now often heard on radio.

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

On this day, Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at the Red Fort. He was the first Indian to do that. He poured his heart out in Raag Kafi. His audience included such great men as Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Thus it was a historic event.

6.      Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the USA?

Bismillah had lived all his life in Benaras. He was deeply attached to the Ganga. He could never think of living away from it. So he refused to start a shehnai school in the USA.

7.      Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loved India and Benaras.

Bismillah Khan played the shehnai for two films. These films were a great success. Now he could stay in Mumbai and earn a lot of money by giving music for films. But he loves Benaras more than money. He could never think of living away from Benaras. A student of his wanted him to start a shehnai school in the USA. The student promised that he would recreate all the atmosphere of Benaras and also its temples. But Khansaab asked him if he could bring the Ganga as well. The Ustad often said,” Whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan. While in Mumbai, I think only of Varanasi and the holy Ganga.” All this shows Bismillah Khan’s great love for India and Benaras. 

Extracts

1.      A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed.

a)      What family did the barber belong to?

The barber belonged to a family of professional musicians.

b)      Who had access to the royal family?

The barber had access to the royal family.

c)      How did he play on it?

He played on it by closing and opening some of the holes on the pipe.

d)      What type of sounds did it make?

It made soft and melodious sounds.

e)      Where did he play it and with what effect?

He played it before royalty and everyone was impressed.

2.      As a five-year old, Bismillah Khan played gilli-danda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar. He would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’, at the end of which he would earn a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg, a prize given by the local Maharaja. This happened 80 years ago, and the little boy has travelled far to earn the highest civilian award in India – the Bharat Ratna.

a)      What game did Bismillah Khan play in his childhood?

He played gilli-danda in his childhood.

b)      Where did he play it?

He played near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar.

c)      Where is Dumraon situated?

Dumraon is situated in Bihar.

d)      What highest award did he win?

He won the Bharat Ratna.

e)      Find in the passage a word which is the opposite of ‘modern’.

Ancient

3.      In spite of having travelled all over the world Khansaab – as he is fondly called – is exceedingly fond of Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world. A student of his once wanted him to head a shehnai school in the USA, and the student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples there. But Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well.

a)      Who was fondly called Khansaab?

Bismillah Khan was fondly called Khansaab.

b)      Where did he travel?

He travelled all over the world.

c)      What places was he most fond of?

He was most fond of Benaras and Dumraon.

d)      What did he promise to do for Khansaab?

He promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras by replicating the temples.

e)      How did Khansaab respond to the student’s offer?

Khansaab asked him if he would be able to transport River Ganga as well.

Extra Question Answers

1.      Name some of awards and honours conferred on Bismillah Khan.

Bismillah Khan won many awards and honours in his life.When he was five years old, he used to sing the Bhojpuri Chaita in a temple. The local Maharaja would give 1.25kg laddu as a prize. On 15^th August,1947 he greeted the motion with his shehnai from the Red Fort. He was awarded the Padamshri, the Padma Bhushan, the Padma Vibhushan and also the Bharat Ratna. The king of Afghanistan gifted him priceless Persian carpets. In Teheran, an auditorium has been named by him.

2.      How did the shehnai get its name?

Pungi is a musical instrument. It makes an unpleasant shrill sound. Emperor Aurangzeb banned it. A nai improved upon the pungi. He made a new instrument. He played it before the shah. Everybody liked its music. Thus the instrument came to be called shehnai ( shah+nai).

3.      Why was Benaras so important to Bismillah Khan?

Bismillah Khan lived in Benaras most of his life. He came here when he was a little boy. He lived with his uncle. He learnt from him how to play the shehnai. He would play the shehnai in the temples of Balaji and Mangala Maiya. He would go to the banks of the Ganga. There he would sit for hours and play the shehnai. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him. He invented many new ragas. Thus it was in Benaras that his music took shape. And Benaras became the most important city for Bismillah Khan.

4.      Why did Bismillah Khan not venture into films?

Bismillah Khan had no love for money. Music was his only love. He was a very simple person. He didn’t like the artificial life of films. He didn’t like to live a life of glamour. So he was never drawn into films. No doubt, he played music for some films. His music was very successful. But Bismillah Khan never thought of migrating to Mumbai. He said, ”Whenever I am in Mumbai, I think only of Varanasi and the holy Ganga.” He didn’t find in films anything that could attract him. That was why he never ventured into films. He wanted to remain a shehnai player only. And Varanasi for him was the most wonderful place in the world.

5.      Write a note on the life and achievements of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was the greatest shehnai player. He was born at Dumraon in Bihar. He belonged to a family of professional musicians. As a little boy, he used to play gilli-danda with the other boys. After playing, he would go to a nearby temple. He would sit there and sing the Bhojpuri Chaita. The local Maharaja felt pleased to hear him to sing. He would give him a big laddu as a reward. At the age of six, he went to Benaras. There his uncle taught him how to play the shehnai. Bismillah Khan would practise for hours in the temples of Balaji and Mangla Maiya. He would also go to the banks of the Ganga.

He would practise there in solitude. Bismillah Khan won many awards. He got his first big award when he was only 14. He got it at the All India Music Conference in Allahabad. On 15 August, 1947, he played at the Red Fort. He was invited by Jawaharlal Nehru himself. In 2001, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna. It is the highest civilian award in India.