A SEMINAR ON ‘TRADITIONAL SHEHNAI PLAYING AND CURRENT SITUATION ORGANIZED

A SEMINAR ON ‘TRADITIONAL SHEHNAI PLAYING AND CURRENT SITUATION ORGANIZED

22-AUG-ENG 7

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------On the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, a discussion was organized on “Traditional Shehnai playing and current situation”.

Tribute was paid by garlanding and offering flowers to the statue of Ustad Bismillah Khan installed in the premises of Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Forum.

Today, the death anniversary of Bharat Ratna famous Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan was organized at the Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Forum located at Patel Bus Stand. The program was presided over by Poonam Singh, National President Swarn Sena. Social workers, theater artists and journalists were present on this occasion. The program started with garlanding and offering flowers to the statue of Ustad Bismillah Khan installed in the stage premises. Thereafter, garlands were offered to the statue of Mridang player and Bhojpuri's Shakespeare Bhikhari Thakur. While conducting the stage, journalist Narendra Singh shed light on the activities of the Bhikhari Thakur Cultural Forum and said that this platform is dedicated to Bhojpuri language, Bhojpuri artists. This is the reason why the institute has installed the statues of Bhikhari Thakur, Mridang player Babu Lalan ji and Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan in this courtyard. Remembering these people, the institute has always been working for social awakening for years. Mr. Singh also presented a detailed account of the work done by the institute since its inception.

Changing the topic, journalist Dr. Dinesh Prasad Sinha said that Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan is the son of the soil of old Shahabad Dumraon, whose melodious sound of Shehnai has been resonating in the country and abroad. This great personality was awarded the Bharat Ratna for the record he set in the field of Shehnai. When the celebration of the freedom movement was held in the country, he got the historic opportunity to play the Shehnai from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Just as the first flag hoisting by the country's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru created a golden history, similarly the great personality of Shahabad also created history of traditional Shehnai playing and became immortal forever.

The melodious tune of the Shehnai of Bharat Ratna awardee Ustad Bismillah Khan was heard and appreciated by people at the national and international level. Today Shehnai playing is on the verge of extinction, western civilization is dominating by sidelining social harmony and ancient civilization culture, which is fatal for the country.

While paying tribute, social worker Sushil Tiwari said that Shehnai playing is on the verge of extinction today because our society has been attracted towards western civilization. On the other hand, while participating in the program, Dr. Kiran Kumari, Advocate Devi Dayal Ram, Ram Sakal Singh Bhojpuriya etc. expressed their views. Retired Captain Arjun Prasad Singh gave the vote of thanks in the program.

Krishnakant Singh, Pappu Singh, Gandhi Ji, Ravindra Singh, Pappu Singha etc. participated in the program organized under the banner of Bhikhari Thakur Social Research Institute.