Ravi goes to Shankar…. Sitar goes silent

Ravi Shankar is no more.

He passed away at the age of 92.  Last Thursday he underwent heart valve replacement surgery at  Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego, California.  His body couldn’t withstand the strain of the surgery and gave way at the ripe age of 92.

The maestro leaves behind a large body of work – in classical music, in popular music, Western musical world, Bollywood music direction, and fusion music.  His encounter with George Harrison may have been the most fortunate for Indian classical music‘s fortune’s in the West.  That afforded him a doorway to the Western music scene.

Ravi Shankar was born in Varanasi to a Bengali family and his real name was Robindro Shaunkor Chowdhury.  He had initially joined the dance troupe of his brother, Uday Shankar and learned dance as well as other instruments, until he settled down on Sitar and learnt from Allauddin Khan in Maihar.

We present some amazing pictures of Ravi Shankar over the years.  And some videos.

Ravi Shankar teaches Sitar to George Harrison

Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Allah Rakha Khan share the stage – playing Jhaptal

Sitar Lessons with Anoushka Shankar

Bollywood Song (Anuradha Movie) music composed by Pt. Ravi Shankar

[alert type=’alert’]Pictures of Pandit Ravi Shankar [/alert]

Ravi Shankar at his home in Encinitas, CA in March 2012 (Pic Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
Ravi Shankar in his youth
Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar and George Harrison
Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar
Ravi Shankar in a performance in 2012
Young Ravi Shankar
George Harrison discusses with Ravi Shankar
George Harrison and Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar in 2012
Another shot from 2012 performance
Ravi Shankar
At his home
Ravi Shankar with his daughter Anoushka Shankar
Enhanced by Zemanta

Great! You’ve successfully signed up.

Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.

You've successfully subscribed to Drishtikone - Online Magazine on Geopolitics and Culture from Indian Perspective.

Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.

Success! Your billing info has been updated.

Your billing was not updated.