Banaras's Luminaries: From Shehnai Maestro to Hockey Magician, Icons Who Shaped India

• Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai Emperor from Kashi, brought global recognition to the instrument and played at India's first Independence Day.
• Lal Bahadur Shastri, India's second Prime Minister, had strong ties to Kashi; his Ramnagar residence is now a museum.
• Girija Devi, a classical music legend from the Banaras gharana, popularized Thumri and received the Padma Vibhushan.
• Mohammed Shahid, the 'Hockey Magician,' an Olympic gold medalist from Kashi, was honored with the Padma and Arjuna Awards.
• Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, a classical vocalist, and Prashanti Singh, a national basketball star, are also celebrated figures from Varanasi.

Why It Matters: Varanasi has produced numerous iconic personalities who excelled in music, politics, and sports, leaving a lasting legacy.