State Leaders Honour Legendary Shehnai Virtuoso Bismillah Khan

The death anniversary of Ustad Bismillah Khan, Bharat Ratna awardee and global ambassador of the shehnai, prompted an unprecedented outpouring of respect from India’s political leadership on August 21. Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhajan Lal Sharma and N. Saini each posted messages on the X platform, lauding the artist’s dedication and his success in placing Indian classical music on international podiums. Delhi minister Enter Prerna Verma, Bihar minister Vijay Kumar Sinha and Uttar Pradesh minister Nand Gopal Gupta also joined the chorus, describing Khan’s lifelong service to music as "immortal" and "inspiring future generations." The coordinated homage reflected the deep reverence the nation holds for the master who turned the shehnai into a symbol of cultural pride.