New Issue from India

Hi Readers ! Today, India Post has issued long awaited commemorative stamp on Ustad Bismillah Khan, famous Shehnai (Shehnai - An Indian Musical Wind instrument) player. Five beautiful sheetlets have also been issued on Indian Coast Guard. It is Olympic time so watch out for some special issues on Olympics in tomorrow's Post. In our regular series some beautiful se-tenants from the album of Mr. Shrikant Parikh. Our special thanks to Mr. Parikh who has been so kind to send us the scans for this Post. This is all for today !....Till next Post ....Have a Nice Time...!

Ustad Bismillah Khan

Date of Issue : 21 August 2008

Bismillah Khan was born on March 21, 1916 at Bhirung Raut Ki Gali, in Dumraon, Bihar as the second son of Paigambar Khan and Mitthan. He was named as Qamaruddin to rhyme with Shamsuddin, their first son. His grandfather, Rasool Baksh Khan uttered "Bismillah" after looking at the newborn, thus he was named Bismillah Khan. His ancestors were court musicians and used to play in Naqqar khana in the princely states of Bhojpur, now in Bihar. His father was a shehnai player in the court of Maharaja Keshav Prasad Singh of Dumraon Estate, Bihar.Khan was perhaps single handedly responsible for making the shehnai a famous classical instrument. He brought the shehnai to the center stage of Indian music with his concert in the Calcutta All India Music Conference in 1937. He was credited with having almost monopoly over the instrument as he and the shehnai are almost synonyms.Khan is one of the finest musicians in post-independent Indian Classical music and one of the best examples of hindu-muslim unity in India.His concept of music was very beautiful and his vision, superb. He once said, "Even if the world ends, the music will still survive" and he often said, "Music has no caste".
His shehnai was so close to him that after the demise of his wife he began to refer to it as his begum, or wife. After his death, his shehnai was buried with him. He was conferred with following prestigious awards.

Bharat Ratna (2001)
Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi (1994).
Talar Mausiquee from Republic of Iran (1992).
Padma Vibhushan (1980)
Padma Bhushan (1968)
Padma Shri (1961)
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1956)
Tansen Award by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh.
Three medals in All India Music Conference, Calcutta (1937)
"Best Performer" in All India Music Conference, Allahabad (1930)

Indian Coast Guard Sheetlet

From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh

Theme - Women

Rural Indian Women

Date of Issue : 15 october 1997

Ashok Chakra Winners

Date of Issue : 8 October 2004

Women's Day

Date of Issue : 8 March 2007

.