Pandit Ravi Shankar was a sitar player and musician. Ravi Shankar is counted among the famous musicians of the world. He has a special contribution in introducing Indian classical music to the western world. His achievement in music can be gauged from the fact that he is a 5-time Grammy Award winner.
| Name | Pandit Ravi (Ravinder Shankar Chaudhary |
| Birth | 7 April 1920, Banaras |
| Occupation | Playing Sitar |
| Teacher | Alauddin Khan |
| Wife | Annapurna Devi (Roshanara Khan) Sukanya Rajan |
| Children | Shubendra Shankar (Mother: Annapurna Devi) Norah Jones (Mother: Sue Jones) Anushka Shankar (Mother: Sukanya Rajan) |
| Related Books | My Life, My Music (1969) Raaga Mala (1999) |
| Famous Awards | 5 times Grammy Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Bharat Ratna |
| Death | December 11, 2012 (age 92) San Diego |
Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 in Banaras. Hemangini Devi and Shyam Shankar Chaudhary were his parents. His father was originally from Jessore district, East Bengal (now Bangladesh). Shyam Shankar Chaudhary was a lawyer and politician. Besides, he was also the Diwan of Rajasthan.
Ravi Shankar's childhood name was Rabindra Shankar Chaudhary, which he later changed to Ravi Shankar. Ravi Shankar received his early musical education from his elder brother Uday Shankar. Uday Shankar was a choreographer/dancer. Before learning sitar, Ravi was a dancer. He was a part of his brother's dance group since the age of 10. Pandit Ravi Shankar started learning sitar from Ustad Alauddin Khan. For this he went to Maihar. He first married his guru's daughter Annapurna Devi. Ravi Shankar and Annapurna separated after 20 years.
Pandit Ravi Shankar demonstrated his sitar playing in the country and abroad. During this time he shared the stage with many internationally renowned artists. He performed with legendary artists like George Harrison of the famous music group The Beatles, composer Philip Glass, composer Zubin Mehta, Ustad Alla Rakha, etc.
His fame in America can be gauged from the fact that Ravi Shankar, Harrison, and members of the touring band received an invitation to visit the White House at the invitation of John Gardner Ford, son of US President Gerald Ford.
Pandit Ravi Shankar was decorated with many awards and honors at national and international level. Based on the information received from Wikipedia, he was honored with many decorations which include Bharat Ratna and Grammy Award.
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