The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Which emperor banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence?

• Emperor Ashoka

• Emperor Chandragupta Maurya

• Emperor Aurangzeb

• Emperor Akbar

How did a barber of a family of professional musicians improve the tonal quality of the pungi?

• He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and made seven holes on the body of the pipe.

• He polished the pungi to make it sound better.

• He replaced the pungi with a new one.

• He gave it for repair to improve its tonal quality.

Where did the nai (barber) first play the shehnai?

• In the auditorium

• At a wedding

• In the temple

• In the Shah's chambers

Who gets the credit to bring the shehnai onto the classical stage?

• Ustad Bismillah Khan

• Bhaskar Nath

• Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan

• Anant Lal

What reward did the local Maharaja give five year old Bismillah when he sang the Bhojpuri 'Chaita'?

• 1 kg gulab jamun

• 1 kg halawa

• 1.25 kg laddu

• 1 kg mithai

When was Ustad Bismillah Khan born?

• 21st March 1916

• 11 December 1920

• 5 October 1930

• 1 April 1940

Who was Ustad Bismillah Khan's grandfather?

• Raheem Khan

• Rasool Bux Khan

• Akbar Khan

• Zakir Khan

Who was Ustad Bismillah Khan's father?

• Paigambar Bux Khan

• Akbar Khan

• Naeem Khan

• Umrao Khan

Who did Bismillah accompany to the Vishnu temple of Benaras?

• Ali Bux, Bismillah's uncle

• Naeem Khan

• Zakir Khan

• Yaqub Khan

What were Bismillah's favourite places to practice playing the Shehnai?

• Benaras

• At his uncle's house

• Temple of Balaji, Mangala Maiya, Ganga river

• At the playground