FLORAL TRIBUTES TO BISMILLAH KHAN

FLORAL TRIBUTES TO BISMILLAH KHAN

21-MARCH-ENG 17

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------The 110th birth anniversary celebration of Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan was organized at the Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Forum complex—operated by the Bhikhari Thakur Social Research Institute—located within the local Sardar Patel Bus Stand premises. The birth anniversary ceremony was presided over by Pappu Sinha and anchored by journalist Narendra Singh, the Founder-President of the Bhikhari Thakur Social Research Institute.

The ceremony commenced with a collective garlanding and floral tribute paid to the statues of the "Shakespeare of Bhojpuri" Bhikhari Thakur, the renowned Pakhawaj player Babu Lalan Singh, and the internationally acclaimed Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan.

The second session of the program featured a discussion titled "Bismillah Khan: Personality and Works."

Introducing the subject of the discussion, Krishna Yadav "Krishnendu"—National President of the "Bhojpuri Research and Development Trust"—stated that Ustad Bismillah Khan (born: March 21, 1916; died: August 21, 2006) was a renowned Shehnai player of India. He was born in Dumraon, Bihar. In 2001, he was conferred with India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna.

He was the third Indian musician to be honored with the Bharat Ratna.

There is an anecdote regarding Ustad Bismillah Khan: once, he received an invitation from the United States urging him to settle there, with the promise that every conceivable amenity would be provided to him; however, he declined this offer. He reasoned, "The Ganges is here; Kashi is here; the temple of Balaji is here. To leave this place would mean being separated from all of these." This incident vividly illustrates the depth of his love for his country.

Manoj Kumar Paswan, former Ward Councilor of Ward No. 36 of the Arrah Municipal Corporation, remarked that the government ought to have organized the birth anniversary celebration of the world-renowned Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan at the level of a national ceremony. Swami Vikramaditya Bhagat, founder of the Prakritik Yogpeeth Trust, stated that Ustad Bismillah Khan brought worldwide renown to the art of playing the Shehnai.

Dudheshwar Mishra, a poet of the Bhojpuri language, paid tribute to the Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan through his poetry: "Buxar-Dumraon is his abode; The Shehnai he plays sings songs of patriotism."

Vinod Singh, National Spokesperson for the Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha, asserted that the government should ensure that the birth anniversaries of distinguished artists are celebrated with great festivity. He extended his gratitude to journalist Narendra Singh for organizing this event.

Vyas Kamlesh Paswan remarked that Ustad Bismillah Khan—who was born in a small town like Dumraon—achieved international fame through his sheer hard work and dedication.

The event was attended by Vijay Kumar Singh, Bhagwati Paswan, Jitendra Paswan, Sarvajeet Kumar, Bharat Singh, Vishal Kumar, S.K. Singh, and others.

While anchoring the program, journalist Narendra Singh observed that the Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Forum stands as a symbol of social harmony; for here, alongside Bhikhari Thakur, one finds Babu Lalan Singh and the internationally acclaimed Shehnai virtuoso, Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Pappu Sinha, the presiding chairman of the program, stated that the organization must be strengthened and that such events need to be expanded in scope. He emphasized that Ustad Bismillah Khan is a shared heritage for all, and his birth anniversary deserves to be celebrated with great fervor.

At the conclusion of the program, Dr. Nand Kishore Ram expressed his gratitude to all the guests and volunteers in attendance.