Classical Music Doyenne Annapurna Devi Passes Away
The daugther of Ustad Allaudin Khan, one of the tallest names in Indian classical music, was leading a reclusive life.
Image Courtesy: Indian Express
Legendary Hindustani classical musician Annapurna Devi died at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Saturday morning, a hospital source said. She was 89, said an IANS report.
"She died on Saturday morning," a Breach Candy Hospital's staff member said.
The Indian 'surbahar' ( a string instrument) player was the daughter and disciple of music stalwart Ustad Allauddin Khan and Madina Begum, sister of sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan and former wife of disntiguished sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Annapurna Devi was born in Madhya Pradesh's Maihar town. She was
a disciple of her father whose tremendous contribution to Indian music resulted in the Senia-Maihar gharana. Her training started early when she was around five years old and she graduated from the sitar to her chosen instrument, the surbahar.
Annapurna Devi, who was Guru Ma to eminent flute player Hariprasad Chaurasiya and many other musicians, instrumenalists and vocalists, was living a reclusive life, accordding to reports.
In a statement cited by the Times of India, well-known instrumentalist Nayan Ghosh said her list of students comprised the who's who of the music world, such as Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Bahadur Khan, Pandit Jotin Bhattacharya, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiyaamong others.
Annapurna Devi had a son Shubhendra Shankar, who passed away in 1992. She later married Rooshikumar Pandya, a management consultant, who passed away in 2013.
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