Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920-2012)
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Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar (1920-2012)

Context: The 105th birth anniversary of Pt. Ravi Shankar, a renowned sitar player and composer, is being observed on 7th April.

About Pt. Ravi Shankar

  • He was born on April 7, 1920, in Varanasi.
  • Ravi Shankar, born as Ravindra Shankar Chowdhury, was the seventh son of Shyam Shankar Chowdhury and Hemangini Devi.
  • He was the youngest of seven brothers and spent ten years of his childhood in Banaras. His family affectionately called him Ravi.
  • Ravi Shankar abandoned his dancing career to study Indian classical music under Allaudin Khan, the lead musician at the court of Maihar, and trained in Sitar and Surbahar with Khan’s children, Annapurna and Ali Akbar.
  • He later married Annapurna Devi and made his debut performance alongside Ali Akbar Khan.
  • After the completion of his training in 1944, Ravi Shankar recomposed the popular song Saare Jahan Se Accha at the age of 25.
  • Ravi Shankar befriended Richard Bock, the founder of World Pacific Records, and recorded his albums in the 1950s and 60s, which led to his association with George Harrison, the lead guitarist of The Beatles.

Awards for Pandit Ravi Shankar:

  • Padma Bhushan (1967): It recognizes exceptional service in any field in India and is one of the nation’s highest civilian honours.
  • Padma Vibhushan (1981): The second-highest civilian award for exceptional service to the nation.
  • Kalidas Samman (1986): Madhya Pradesh’s prestigious award for excellence in Indian classical music.
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987): It is the highest recognition for practicing artists in India, awarded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
  • Grammy Awards: Four-time winner, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 (posthumously).
    • First in 1967 for Best Chamber Music Performance for the album West Meets East.
    • The second was in 1972 for The Concert for Bangladesh.
    • Third in 2000 for Best World Music Album for Full Circle — Carnegie Hall 2000.
    • In 2013, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award was awarded posthumously.
  • Bharat Ratna (1999): India’s highest civilian award for exceptional contribution to art and public service.
  • UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (1999): Appointed for his cultural contributions.
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