Bageshwari Qamar holds the distinction of being India’s first woman shehnai player, breaking gender barriers in a field traditionally dominated by men. She was trained by the legendary Ustad Bismillah Khan, under whose guidance she mastered the nuances of the shehnai. In 1983, the year of her public debut, she was crowned the Shehnai Queen at a performance in Chandigarh. Since then, she has released several solo recordings and has also performed a celebrated jugalbandi with her guru, Ustad Bismillah Khan. Her international acclaim includes representing India at the Bharat Mahotsav held in Russia in 1988.

Bageshwari Qamar comes from a deeply musical lineage. She is the daughter of Jagdish Prasad Qamar, the only disciple of Ustad Bismillah Khan to join him under the traditional Gurukul system. Jagdish became part of the maestro’s household in Benaras in 1946 at the tender age of 10, where he lived and learned the shehnai as a devoted student. Continuing this legacy, Bageshwari Qamar carved her own path, becoming a trailblazer for women instrumentalists in Indian classical music and preserving the rich heritage of the shehnai for future generations.