Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahab Passes Away - SM site

It is with profound gried that we announce the demise of BHARAT RATNA Ustad Bismillah Khan, one of India's best-known musicians, a master exponent of shehnai and the greatest supporter of SPIC MACAY, He died of heart failure at the age of 91 early on Monday, 21 AUGUST 2006.

Schools and government offices were closed in his home state of Uttar Pradesh, and flags flew at half-mast to mourn the musician who was given the country's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.

Born into a family of musicians who played for royalty, Khan sahib transfixed generations of audiences across the world with his soulful rendition of classical music on the "shehnai," an instrument which, untill his arrival on the musical scene, was just played during marriages in northern India.

In 1947, Khan sahab played the instrument at the historic Red Fort as India became independent from British rule.

For SPIC MACAY he has always been an icon, an ideal.. a person we simply couldn't do without. For more than 20 years he regularly inaugurated almost all our National Conventions and major series across India... playing mellifluous music on his shehnai to give an auspicious start to our programmes.

He single handedly inspired and impressed thousands of students and adults whenever he interacted with them. His sheer humility, his ever smiling face, the happy persona, his charm.. that lay not only in his music but also in his conversations, his talks. The way he could take you back in time and regale and kindle you (at the same time) with

his anecdotes, life experiences was simply amazing!

We can be proud of the fact that Ustadji's very last performance on stage was for SPIC MACAY only on June 19, 2006 at the inauguration of the 21st National Convention in JAIPUR. But Ustadji always knew when it was time for the curtains to fall.. and today the curtain has fallen for the final time!

We at the movement feel at a terrible loss, almost orphaned. Let us all pray for the peace of the DEPARTED SOUL!!

A great human being passed away. We are dedicating all our programs for the next one year to the loving memory of Ustad Bismillah Khan.