Bellur ravi shankar biography

1. Biography of Ravi Shankar
2. Early Life and Career
3. Personal Life and Relationships
4. Professional Accomplishments
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Ravi Shankar

Ravi Shankar, an Indian composer widely known as a virtuoso sitar player, was a close friend of George Harrison, a disciple of the court musician, and one of the most prominent figures in Indian culture. Let's take a closer look at how the musical career of the man who introduced Western audiences to Indian classical music developed.

Early Life and Career

Ravi Shankar was born in Varanasi, and his early years were spent touring India and Europe as a part of his brother Uday Shankar's dance group. In 1938, Ravi Shankar left dancing behind and began studying the sitar. He became a student of the court musician Allauddin Khan and by 1944, Shankar had mastered the instrument and decided to pursue a career as a composer. He composed music for Satyajit Ray's "The Apu Trilogy" among other works.

Personal Life and Relationships

In 1941, Shankar married Annapurna Devi, Allauddin Khan's daughter, and they had a son named Shubhendra Shankar in 1942. However, Shankar and Devi eventually separated, and the musician became involved with dancer Kamala Shastri. He also had a romantic relationship with New York concert producer Sue Jones, which resulted in the birth of their daughter Nora Jones in 1979. Shankar later married Sukanya Rajan, who gave birth to their daughter Anoushka Shankar in 1981.

Professional Accomplishments

From 1949 to 1956, Ravi Shankar served as the music director for All India Radio in New Delhi. In 1956, he began touring Europe and America, predominantly performing classical Indian music. Shankar's compositions gained popularity, and he became even more renowned when he started teaching and befriended violinist Yehudi Menuhin and Beatles guitarist George Harrison. He also actively explored Western music and incorporated it into his own work, popularizing instruments like the sitar that were unconventional in the West. He wrote several pieces for sitar and orchestra.

Later Years and Legacy

During the 1970s and 1980s, Ravi Shankar continued to tour worldwide and maintained his popularity. He also ventured into politics and held a position in the upper house of the Indian Parliament. In 1992, Shankar underwent angioplasty to address his heart problems. However, this did not end his career, and he continued to perform actively, releasing his second autobiography, edited by George Harrison. Shankar performed around 25 to 40 concerts each year.

In 1999, he was awarded the highest civilian honor in India, the Bharat Ratna. In 2000, Shankar won a Grammy Award for Best World Music Album, and soon after, he embarked on a tour accompanied by his daughter Anoushka. Anoushka Shankar published a book about her father in 2002. Ravi Shankar continued to perform until his death.

On December 6, 2012, Shankar was admitted to a California hospital due to severe breathing problems. He underwent heart valve replacement surgery, but unfortunately, he passed away during the operation. Ravi Shankar was 92 years old at the time of his death, leaving behind a great legacy as an influential and acclaimed Indian musician.