Photo: Robert Garfias / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 in Dumraon, Buxar district, India and was credited as a musician. Death is recorded on August 21, 2006, at the age of 90. Listed accolades include Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Padma Bhushan, Bharat Ratna and 2 more.
My Take
Bismillah Khan is the kind of artist who humbles me. He took the shehnai, a reedy instrument once tied to weddings and temple courtyards, and elevated it into a vehicle for serious Hindustani classical music heard around the world. India honored him with the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but what moves me most is the singularity of his devotion: one man, one instrument, one lifelong conversation between the two. He passed in 2006, yet his sound endures. I deeply admire people who pour an entire life into a single, unglamorous calling and make it timeless.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bismillah Khan
- Name (Japanese)
- ビスミッラー・カーン
- Reading
- びすみっらー・かーん
- Born
- March 21, 1916 – August 21, 2006
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Dragon
- Origin
- Dumraon, Buxar district, India
- Occupation
- musician
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- Padma Bhushan
- Bharat Ratna
- Padma Shri in arts
- Padma Vibhushan
3. Links
- Official sitehttp://ustadbismillahkhan.com/
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bismillah%20Khan
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379707
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-20
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bismillah Khan born?
Born March 21, 1916.
When did Bismillah Khan die?
Died August 21, 2006, aged 90.
Where was Bismillah Khan from?
Bismillah Khan was from Dumraon, Buxar district, India.
What did Bismillah Khan do?
Bismillah Khan worked as musician.