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Shehnai Ke Shahenshah-The Emperor of the Shehnai-Ustad Bismillah Khan
Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan died of cardiac arrest in the wee hours of Monday morning. Khan was born on March 21, 1916 into a family of court musicians and later trained under his uncle, the late Ali Bux 'Vilayatu', a shehnai player at Varanasi's Vishwanath temple.

He enthralled audiences across the world with his refreshing blend of music, infact he resurrected the shehnai from the obscurity of being an accompanying instrument to an independent instrument.

He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. He was a man of simple tastes and led a Puritan lifestyle. He has now left our world and is perhaps enthralling the gods in heaven with his sweet melodies.