"The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan"

  Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called Pungi in the Royal Residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Pungi became the generic name for reeded noisemakers. Few had thought that it would one day be revived. A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had acess to the Royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the Pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow atem that was longer and broader than the Pungi and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing and opening some of the holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced. He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed. The instrument so different from the Pungi had to be given a new name.