Santoor maestro Bhajan Sopori passes away at 74
Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori
Santoor maestro Bhajan Sopori has passed away. He was 74. The classical musicianwas undergoing treatment at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram, India.
Born in Sopore,Kashmir,he belonged to Sufiana SoporiGharana and was the great-grandson of classical musicianPandit Shankar Pandit andson ofAbhay Rustum Sopori, who was also asantoor player.
“We lost a really great musician, a great human being and a great father. It’s really hard for me to believe this and imagine my life without him,” his son Abhay Sopori told Indianexpress.com.He added that his father passed away at 3:30 pm on Thursday and was “ailing in the hospital for the last three weeks”.
His lastrites will be performed in Delhi on Friday. He is survived by his wife and two sons – Abhay, who is also a santoor player andSorabh.
Known as 'Saint of the Santoor', for his contribution,he was honoured with many accoladesincludingSangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992 and the Padma Shri in 2004. He was also awarded Jammu and Kashmir State lifetime achievement award.
Bhajan Sopori, gavehis first performance in 1953, at the age of five. The santoor legendlearned western musicat Washington University and classical Hindustani music fromhis renowned grandfather, SC Sopori. Years later, he also taught music at Washington University.
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