The Aryavarth Express:
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], April 7 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday paid tribute to legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar on his birth anniversary, describing him as a cultural icon and a “pride of Bengal and Bengalis.”
In a post on X, Banerjee hailed him as one of the foremost torchbearers of Bengal’s Renaissance, noting that his music played a key role in taking Indian classical traditions to a global audience. She expressed deep respect for the maestro, saying his “rapturous melodies” helped Indian classical music gain worldwide recognition.
Born in Varanasi in 1920, Ravi Shankar began his artistic journey as a dancer in the troupe of his brother Uday Shankar before dedicating himself to the sitar under the guidance of Allauddin Khan. Over time, he emerged as one of the most influential figures in Indian classical music.
He played a pivotal role in popularising the sitar globally, particularly during the 1960s, with iconic performances at international events like the Monterey Pop Festival (1967) and Woodstock (1969). His association with George Harrison of The Beatles further bridged Eastern and Western musical traditions.
Ravi Shankar also contributed to cinema, composing memorable scores for Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy and Richard Attenborough’s film Gandhi, earning international acclaim.
A recipient of India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, he also won multiple Grammy Awards and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986 to 1992.
His musical legacy continues through his daughters, Anoushka Shankar, an accomplished sitarist, and Norah Jones, a globally celebrated singer-songwriter.
