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At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference. At the end of his recital, Ustad Faiyaz Khan patted the young boy’s back and said, “Work hard and you shall make it.” With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938 came Bismillah’s big break. He soon became an often-heard shehnai player on radio.
When India gained independence on 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai. He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Fort to an audience which included Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech.
Explanation:
When Bismillah reached the age of \(14\), he went with his uncle to the Allahabad Music Conference. After the performance, Hindustani music expert Ustad Faiyaz Khan appreciated the young boy. He patted Bismillah's back and motivated him to work hard so that he will make it big in the music industry. The All India Radio service opened in Lucknow in \(1938\). It was Bismillah's big chance to prove his skills. Soon, Bismillah's shehnai music was heard often on the radio, because he got many chances to perform for the radio.
Bismillah's radio performances continued. After India's independence on \(15\)th August \(1947\), he was the first Indian to play the shehnai and greet the country. He played the Raag Kafi and he brought out all his deepest emotions in the performance. He played from the Red Fort. Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru were prominent among those who heard his performance that day. It was after Bismillah's performance, that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous speech, 'Tryst with Destiny'.
Meanings of difficult words:
No. | Words | Meanings |
1 | accompanied | go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort |
2 | recital | a performance of a programme of music |
3 | big break | big chance that leads to professional success |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2006). Beehive. The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan (pp. 21-29). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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