Bismillah Khan was an Indian shehnai player who popularized the shehnai, an oboe-like wind instrument. He brought the shehnai to the concert stage and elevated its status from a folk instrument to a classical one. Khan received many honors, including India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna. He performed the shehnai at India's independence celebrations at Red Fort in Delhi on important national occasions. Khan is credited with almost single-handedly making the shehnai a famous classical instrument in India.